[kwlug-disc] user and ui

[Erik Schnetter]

The main task of a good UI is to display the otherwise hidden state of
an application. One of the places where this is important these days
is with git, the version control system. Not only is there a directory
tree (with multiple levels), there is also a (almost completely
hidden) staging area, the local repository, the remote repository, and
various branches. It's easy for both novices and experts to lose their
bearings, and the usual advice ("rm -rf; git clone") gives a clean
slate that is again easy to understand.

The good git UIs (both the explicit ones, and the ones built into
IDEs) display hidden information: which files have changes, which
files would change when you pull in remote changes, where are
conflicts, what are you about to commit, etc.

So, while I agree that "leading the user" might be part of it, I'd put
the emphasis more onto "show the user what's going on", and then
assume that the user (who then knows what's happening) can make
meaningful choices. That leaves complete novices out of the picture,
but remains useful and not-annoying for experts.

-erik


On Mon, Mar 22, 2021 at 12:04 PM Mikalai Birukou via kwlug-disc
<kwlug-disc at kwlug.org> wrote:
>
> The following is an observation about UI approaches. What do you think?
> Comments and other stories are appreciated.
>
> CLI is good, even superb when user either knows what commands to utter,
> or knows what questions to ask shell, so that it leads you toward
> correct action (assuming shell is capable of answering).
>
> GUI is the only option for those users who don't know what questions to
> ask. And designer has to lead user with clues. Clues are aided by common
> metaphors, common experience.
>
> lxc and docker are examples of CLI that was better at leading me to
> correct commands. Before that I wasn't touching CLI much. And in what I
> do now, I look and long for lxc/docker style of leading me, the user.
> Let's note that aforementioned stylistic approach in lxc/docker could've
> existed before, and I also don't want to say that this is the best,
> example is simply my anecdotal case of experience in cli.
>
>
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-- 
Erik Schnetter <schnetter at gmail.com>
http://www.perimeterinstitute.ca/personal/eschnetter/