# Reimagining Base App Mini Apps UX

> 3 UX tweaks Base App can do to make mini apps and builders go viral

**Published by:** [JAstra's Thoughts](https://paragraph.com/@jastrathoughts/)
**Published on:** 2026-01-10
**Categories:** base, builder, baseapp, product, ux
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@jastrathoughts/reimagining-base-app-mini-apps-ux

## Content

As a Base Builder with 7 mini apps launched on @baseapp (2 of my own) and some early traction, here are my thoughts on the recent Base App changes and how a UX revamp could help mini apps + builders go viral, which then drives more meaningful trading. The DisconnectionThe narrative is shifting hard towards post + creator coins, and that’s reflected in the Base App UX. I get why: it’s a fast path to virality and volume. But right now there’s a real disconnect between social engagement and trading intent. If the social algorithm is meant to push meaningful engagement, we need more context. I’m seeing lots of coins/posts with little or no explanation. So naturally, I don’t know how to engage, even if I want to. Context is important here. Not sure why I should engage because I don't know the backstory. The comments are also filled with spam. The ReconnectionI see mini apps as the bridge between doing something and caring enough to transact. If I were revamping Base App, here are the biggest UX changes I’d makeRemove the "Trade vs Talk" splitTrade vs Talk creates a tradable vs non-tradable dichotomy that hurts social discovery.Posts with mini apps aren’t tradableUsers are default to the Trade tabThat means mini app posts (and builders) get less visibilityYou can see the impact in the base.dev dashboard: Feed discovery is down vs a few months ago.Mini app posts are non-tradable which hurts social discovery. Since they're filtered out of the Trade tab, they're basically invisible.Fix: unify the feed so social discovery isn’t artificially split. Instead of showing users endless coins they have no emotional connection to, let mini apps be the engagement gateway—where people interact first, then trade when it makes sense. Posts with mini apps should be tradable to support builders and align incentives. Ranking-wise, weight content by:social relevance to the userquality/contextreal engagement signals (not just noise) 2. Surface Mini Apps in Search Right now mini apps are tucked away: Search → Apps → categories → (then maybe discovery) Even then, it doesn’t feel like a true “user acquisition” surface, more like a curated shelf. Fix: add a lightweight module in Search like Trending Coins:show 1 trending app per categorytap-through to a proper mini app discovery pageImportantly, social feed should go hand in hand with mini app discovery. Mini apps that drive social engagement, transactions, or high-quality onchain activity should rank higher in Feed discovery.A mix of trending mini apps in different categories e.g. game, music, utility, trading 3. Increase diversity in highlighted categories The highlighted categories right now skew towards trading/airdrop/soft gambling. If the attention stays narrow, builders will keep pivoting into the same category of apps, reinforcing repetition. Users eventually get fatigued. If Base App wants meaningful engagement, the UI/UX should actively encourage a broader range of mini apps (games, social utilities, creator tools, IRL coordination, learning, etc.).Closing thoughtsI believe in Base and in the builders who came here because of the builder culture. I want to see a wide variety of mini apps flourish, and I want Base App to actually solve distribution for builders. So every builder has a real shot at shipping and reaching users because Base is for everyone. JAstra, Base Builder

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