"A lot of bandwidth has been wasted arguing over the lack of usability in open-source software/free software. Some people say that bad usability is endemic to the entire OSS world, while others say that OSS usability is great but that the real problem is the closed-minded users who expect every program to clone Microsoft. Some people contend that UI problems are temporary growing pains, while others say that the OSS development model systematically produces bad UI. In an effort to understand usability in the OSS world, I've researched the stories behind my favorite - and least favorite - OSS programs. I've found a fascinating variety of personalities, design philosophies, and project organizations. Although I've only scratched the surface, there are already themes that come up again and again."
To view parent comment, click here.
To read all comments associated with this story, please click here.
Member since:2006-01-02
Hear, hear! Knowing the particular flags of a command-line program or the formatting of a config file (or registry key, if you're of the Windows persuasion) is not a good use of human intelligence. Even for technical users, the interface to the software should take them as quickly as possible to the places where they have to make a decision that the software cannot make itself.
It is not the eye candy of the transparent, 3-D desktops that make software usable and beautiful. The Mac has none of these things and it is still well-regarded. It's the thought that goes behind how the functionality is presented to the user so that they naturally fall into the pattern of using the software correctly. Discoverability is hard.
Also, listening to user requests is not the right answer. Neither is having the developers and designers "guess." UI designs are like a--holes, everyone's got one and no one really wants to use yours. The only real way to get a good UI is to instrument your prototypes and either collect data in a usability lab or to collect data through remote telemetry.
Member since:2005-10-02
Stop the nazi-namecalling, please.
Fact is that users can perform some operations faster through a GUI and other operations faster through command line. Personally it's my experience that the combination of GUI and command line is the most powerful combination. What would AutoCAD be like if I couldn't combine mouse-drawing with keyboard-drawing?
l m *mouseclick*m *mouseclick*
Draw a line from midpoint of one line to midpoint of another line. Damn fast to do when combining both tools. GUI isn't better than CLI and CLI isn't better than GUI. Different strengths, different drawbacks. Learn how to use the tools properly.
Member since:2005-07-06
Maybe it changed in later (>R14) AutoCAD versions but wasn't it more like:
l *enter*
m *enter*
*mouseclick*
m *enter*
*mouseclick*
Whereas with another CAD program I used at the time, it really was as you described, as that program had a not a command line, but a well designed keyboard/mouse UI.
I will admit however that AutoCAD's command line was quite useful in many instances. For one, I got quite good at building CSG based 3D models using only the keyboard and typing in coordinates.
Member since:2005-11-02
Exactly! just head on over to any pro-Linux thread and shout TO HELL WITH COMMAND LINE! I'll bet you'll see the rank-and-file linux nazi's spew all sorts of nastiness...
I, for one, consider myself a person of moderate intelligence and yet have ZERO desire to re-learn anything that has to be typed on the right hand side of a prompt.
I invoke Godwin's law you GUI-Nazi!
Member since:
2006-10-10
I've also personally seen comments from developers like what were mentioned for ZIYASP.
Exactly! Anyone who doesn't believe that, or want a live demonstration, should just head on over to any pro-Linux thread and shout TO HELL WITH COMMAND LINE! I'll bet you'll see the rank-and-file linux nazi's spew all sorts of nastiness not unlike that which the author fictitiously wrote about ZIYASP.
I, for one, consider myself a person of moderate intelligence and yet have ZERO desire to re-learn anything that has to be typed on the right hand side of a prompt.
A good article, at any rate.