Your director at Meta asks about WhatsApp Desktop: should we implement native app features with larger installation size or maintain lightweight features with smaller footprint?

Introduction

The trade-off we're examining today is whether WhatsApp Desktop should implement native app features with a larger installation size or maintain lightweight features with a smaller footprint. This decision impacts user experience, performance, and resource allocation. I'll analyze this trade-off by considering user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Context: I'm assuming this is driven by user feedback or competitive analysis. Could you share what prompted this consideration for WhatsApp Desktop?

Why it matters: Helps understand the urgency and motivation behind the decision. Expected answer: User requests for more features or competitor offerings. Impact: Would influence prioritization of specific features.

• Business Context: How does WhatsApp Desktop's performance align with our overall WhatsApp strategy?

Why it matters: Ensures the decision supports broader business goals. Expected answer: It's a growing channel for user engagement and retention. Impact: Would affect resource allocation and feature prioritization.

• User Impact: Which user segments are most active on WhatsApp Desktop, and what are their primary use cases?

Why it matters: Identifies key users and their needs to guide feature decisions. Expected answer: Professional users for work communication, power users for multi-device sync. Impact: Would influence which native features to prioritize.

• Technical: What are the current technical limitations preventing us from implementing native features without increasing installation size?

Why it matters: Helps understand the technical trade-offs and potential solutions. Expected answer: Current architecture or development framework constraints. Impact: Would guide the technical approach and resource requirements.

• Resources: What's our current team capacity for WhatsApp Desktop development?

Why it matters: Determines feasibility of implementing and maintaining new features. Expected answer: Limited dedicated resources or shared with mobile teams. Impact: Would influence timeline and scope of potential changes.