Fun Stuff > CLIKC
Linux
Catfish_Man:
An application doesn't have to be everything to everyone*, but you're correct, that quote is an oversimplification to make a point.
The hardest task in user interface design (in my opinion) is making the design scalable: intuitive and functional for new users, while still being powerful and abbreviated for advanced users. Firefox's solution of using extensions to add capabilities is possibly a good one; keyboard shortcuts are also an extremely good way of enhancing things for advanced users.
Unfortunately, many programmers (and users!) don't even realize it's possible. To them a design has to be either dumbed down and easy, or powerful and difficult to learn.
*in fact you could summarize the basics of the original unix application design philosophy as "do only one thing, but do it really well and support pipes to build more complex commands". In today's graphical world pipes are probably not the best way of doing things, but the basic principle of composition still works well.
nihilist:
The bigger problem? Every user has a different idea of what they want. I would suggest having both simple and advanced modes, which allow for showing different options, but most users would probably never even realize that they could change from one mode to the other.
At the end of the day, developers need to realize that their target audience is probably far less proficient with computers than they are.
Catfish_Man:
--- Quote from: mr. mike on 30 Oct 2006, 23:34 ---The bigger problem? Every user has a different idea of what they want. I would suggest having both simple and advanced modes, which allow for showing different options, but most users would probably never even realize that they could change from one mode to the other.
--- End quote ---
Has been tried, doesn't work very well. Too many users fall into in-between categories, and it leads to developers ignoring usability in advanced mode, and features in simple mode.
nihilist:
I know. There is no pancea.
Toba:
1) If you want cohesiveness, don't use Linux.
2) If you want ease of use, don't use Linux unless you want Ubuntu, where #1 still applies partially.
3) If you want a Unix command line, don't use Windows.
4) If you want anything to just work on it (minus the problems you can't fix, but won't happen very often), use Windows.
5) If you want crazyness and awesome all rolled into one, use Linux
6) Yes
7) yes
8) yes
Putting Linux (Gentoo) on my brand new AMD x2 4400+ when the rest of the parts come on Tuesday.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version