Archive of UserLand's first discussion group, started October 5, 1998.

Why Open-Source UIs Suck

Author:Erik Neu
Posted:1/31/2000; 4:35:11 AM
Topic:Why Open-Source UIs Suck
Msg #:14882
Prev/Next:14881 / 14883

From Sendmail.net This presents an interesting dichotomy: why is the best software writing organization on earth unable to produce innovative interfaces, when small commercial software companies do so with regularity (if not always with commercial success)?

The answer is relatively simple: The Open Source movement has no feedback loop to end-users, and no imperative to create one.

The majority of Open Source software is still written for programmer-users: the systems are made with flexibility - not usability - in mind. Enough hooks and parameters are included that the user can create features that don't exist in the default configuration. This is a great idea and a powerful paradigm for a target audience with the skills, the time, and the incentive to make the necessary changes.



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