Direct Message Usage Guide
Direct messages support one-on-one communication with other users on AtomGit. You can send text, images, as well as links to repositories, files, Issues, and Pull Requests.
1. Starting a Chat
- Log in to AtomGit, click 「Messages」 in the left navigation, and go to the 「Direct Messages」 category.
- Click 「Start a Direct Message」 (pencil icon) in the conversation list, enter the other user's nickname or username (at least 2 characters).
- Select the user, type your message, and click Send or press Enter; press Shift + Enter to insert a line break.
You can also click 「Direct Message」 on the user's profile page, or select the user under the 「Contacts」 category and click 「Send Message」. Existing conversations can be opened directly from the chat list.
Sending direct messages requires account qualification: currently supported for Growth Levels 1, 2, and 3, with a growth value greater than 0. Messages cannot be sent if the account is restricted or if a block relationship exists between both parties; the specific reason will be displayed above the input box.
2. Sending Text, Images, and Resource Links
Text
Each message supports up to 5,000 characters. Content consisting only of spaces or line breaks cannot be sent.
Images
Click the image button in the input area, or paste/drag images directly. Supports PNG, JPEG, GIF, and WebP formats, with a maximum size of 20 MiB per image. After selecting an image, confirm the preview and send it; images in chats can be viewed at full resolution by clicking on them.
Images are sent independently. When you select an image and click Send, only the image is sent. Any unsent text and attached resources will remain in the draft and require resending.
Resource Links
Click the 「+」 button in the input area to select a repository, a file/folder within a repository, an Issue, or a PR. Added links can be removed, or sent alongside text, or sent independently.
Sending links does not grant access permissions. The recipient must already have appropriate access permissions to open restricted content such as private repositories.
Drafts
Switching conversations, or navigating to a group chat and returning, will preserve unsent content. Refreshing the page, closing the tab, or logging out will discard drafts, which are also not synced across devices.
3. Viewing and Replying to Messages
The conversation list displays unread counts; click 「Unread」 to filter recent conversations. The search box is used to find loaded conversations by the other party's nickname; if not found, click 「Load More」 or use 「Start a Direct Message」 to search for users.
Once inside a conversation, you can:
- View history: Scroll up to browse previous messages, click 「Load Earlier Messages」 to continue, or click 「New Messages Available」 to jump to the latest.
- Quote reply: Hover over a text message, select 「Quote」, type your response, and send.
- Copy text: Hover over a text message and select 「Copy」.
Sent messages display their delivery status:
| Status | Meaning & Action |
|---|---|
| Sending | Sending in progress. Please wait. If it takes too long, check your network and connection status. |
| Sent | Message successfully sent. Does not indicate whether the recipient has read it. |
| Read | Recipient has read the message. |
| Send Failed | Follow the error prompt, then resend. Edit and resend if changes are needed. |
| Pending Confirmation | Delivery confirmation pending. Click 「Confirm & Retry」. Do not resend manually to avoid duplicates. |
4. Sending Limits
To reduce spam, daily quotas apply when sending direct messages to users you do not follow back and who have not established a two-way conversation with you:
| Limit Scope | Daily Quota |
|---|---|
| To the same user | Growth Levels 1, 2, and 3: 3, 5, and 10 messages respectively |
| To all such users | 20 messages total |
Mutual follows, or after both parties have successfully exchanged at least one message, the conversation is exempt from the above two quotas. All direct messages are still subject to a global limit of 1,000 messages per person per day, and excessively frequent sending may trigger temporary restrictions.
Only successfully sent messages consume your daily quota. Quotas reset at 00:00 Beijing Time daily. Prompts will appear above the input box if remaining quota drops below 3 or is exhausted.
Direct message content is subject to platform review. If it fails review, edit and resend. Repeated failures may result in temporary restrictions. If your account faces other DM restrictions, follow the on-page instructions.
5. Blocking and Reporting
Blocking or Unblocking
Click 「Block」 in the top-right corner of the conversation. Blocked users cannot exchange direct messages with each other; historical messages and follow relationships remain unaffected.
To unblock, click 「Unblock」 in the current conversation, or open the 「Blacklist」 in the conversation list toolbar, locate the user, and remove them. If the other party has also blocked you, they must unblock you first to restore chatting capability.
Reporting a Message
- Hover over the received message and select 「Report」.
- Fill in the reason for reporting, adding details if necessary.
- Click 「Submit Report」.
Reports target the selected single message. The platform retains the message content for verification and processing. 「Report Received」 indicates successful submission, not a violation determination; outcomes are not displayed directly in the conversation.
In case of harassment, you can report and block simultaneously. For cases involving fraud or personal threats, keep screenshots and contact the platform via in-site feedback or official customer service channels. Never share sensitive information like passwords, verification codes, or Tokens via direct messages. If asked for account credentials through DMs, verify requests through official channels.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
My message won't send. What should I do?
Check the prompt above the input box or next to the message, then handle it according to the table below:
| Prompt or Situation | Solution |
|---|---|
| Account doesn't currently meet DM qualifications | Check if your growth level and points satisfy the requirements. |
| Daily sending quota is exhausted | Wait for daily reset; see Section 4 for rules. |
| Sending too frequently | Try again later. |
| You have blocked the other user | Unblock them in the conversation or blacklist. |
| The other user has blocked you | They must unblock you before you can send again. |
| Message failed moderation | Edit the content and resend. |
| DM privileges are restricted | Check restriction details on the page; contact platform support if unsure. |
| Connection dropped or logged in elsewhere | Click 「Reconnect」. Avoid opening the messaging page across multiple tabs/devices simultaneously. |
| Unable to fetch send limits temporarily | Click 「Refresh」 to retry. |
| Service temporarily busy | Try again later. |
Can't find a specific user?
Ensure you're entering a nickname or username with at least 2 characters. 「Start a Direct Message」 does not support searching by User ID. Accounts with privacy settings enabled will not appear in search results.
Can't send an image?
Verify that the format and size meet requirements. If the image is empty, corrupted, or too large, re-export or resize it and try again. Wait for loading/uploading to complete.
After switching devices, are chat history and drafts preserved?
Historical messages remain accessible upon logging into the same account. Unsended drafts are not synced across devices and will not be retained after refreshing the page.
Still unable to resolve it?
Contact the platform via in-site feedback, providing the operation time, the other user's username, page prompts, or screenshots. Before submitting screenshots, mask any unrelated personal information.