Re: The "user-developer gap" myth

[Phoenyx <quazar@dcnet2000.com>]

> Programming isn't hard.  Programming well is, though.  It
> takes practice to create software that's really easy and
> convenient to use -- especially by people other than the
> programmer

It is also harder to create intuitive interfaces. Apple Inc. has
supplied guidelines for this but often, the text interface fails
when using the mouse oriented method.

Many early programs use a menu oriented interface. For some this
works well, but again, many programs don't function well with
this interface. As an example, file/disk managers. Practically
every one I know of are menu oriented and require extra effort
on the user for selecting functions and the files on which to
perform them. In contrast, my simple file manager Atree II uses
a path and file display method and is (to me at least) easier to
use for many functions. Of course, like most programs, it could
use improvement in some areas. However, it helps to prove the
point.

-- 

Thank you for your time and interest. I hope it was helpful
or at least interesting.

Phoenyx,

Apple2 user since March 1984

Links to Phoenyx's pages:
preferred..... http://zip.to/Phoenyx_A2
alternate..... http://www.tinyangeldesigns.com/Apple2