I agree that not having the Prefereces... command is bad, in that it's confusing.
Having said that, I understand why it's not there.
So, to please both camps, have the Preferences... menu item launch a help window/assistant that explains the preferences philosophy of TextMate, along with visuals on where to find them (the specific menus), and how the TextMate approach makes sense for what TextMate does.
That will eliminate the number one problem encountered by new users, and also get them quickly up to speed about TextMate's underlying philosophy.
"Show, don't tell."
Regards,
Eric Ocean
Brilliant suggestion.
John
On Oct 7, 2004, at 12:01 PM, Eric Ocean wrote:
I agree that not having the Prefereces... command is bad, in that it's confusing.
Having said that, I understand why it's not there.
So, to please both camps, have the Preferences... menu item launch a help window/assistant that explains the preferences philosophy of TextMate, along with visuals on where to find them (the specific menus), and how the TextMate approach makes sense for what TextMate does.
That will eliminate the number one problem encountered by new users, and also get them quickly up to speed about TextMate's underlying philosophy.
"Show, don't tell."
Regards,
Eric Ocean
textmate mailing list textmate@lists.macromates.com http://lists.macromates.com/mailman/listinfo/textmate
On Thu, 7 Oct 2004 10:01:27 -0700, Eric Ocean subscriber@ampede.com wrote:
have the Preferences... menu item launch a help window/assistant that explains the preferences philosophy of TextMate, along with visuals on where to find them (the specific menus), and how the TextMate approach makes sense for what TextMate does.
That will eliminate the number one problem encountered by new users, and also get them quickly up to speed about TextMate's underlying philosophy.
"Show, don't tell."
You're suggesting explanatory text -- which would seem to map to telling more than showing.
The need to explain something to users is a sign that there's a design problem to be corrected. Given that Allan has said a Preferences item is inevitable, shouldn't that just be introduced instead of implemented as an explanation for why it's not there?
If there must be an explanation, why not just make it the first tip-of-the-day the user sees?
The fact of the matter regarding preferences is that it's expected in all software.... mac, pc or anything else, it doesn't matter. Preferences are simply a standard part of software usability design.
I also think that if needs to be explained, then there is definitely a design flaw.
Peace Mike
On Oct 7, 2004, at 2:05 PM, Ryan Platte wrote:
On Thu, 7 Oct 2004 10:01:27 -0700, Eric Ocean subscriber@ampede.com wrote:
have the Preferences... menu item launch a help window/assistant that explains the preferences philosophy of TextMate, along with visuals on where to find them (the specific menus), and how the TextMate approach makes sense for what TextMate does.
That will eliminate the number one problem encountered by new users, and also get them quickly up to speed about TextMate's underlying philosophy.
"Show, don't tell."
You're suggesting explanatory text -- which would seem to map to telling more than showing.
The need to explain something to users is a sign that there's a design problem to be corrected. Given that Allan has said a Preferences item is inevitable, shouldn't that just be introduced instead of implemented as an explanation for why it's not there?
If there must be an explanation, why not just make it the first tip-of-the-day the user sees?
-- Ryan Platte _______________________________________________ textmate mailing list textmate@lists.macromates.com http://lists.macromates.com/mailman/listinfo/textmate
On Oct 7, 2004, at 11:16 AM, Michael Gregoire wrote:
I also think that if needs to be explained, then there is definitely a design flaw.
I'm not sure where this bit of "wisdom" originated, but it's simply not true. I'm not sure how many of TextMate's user base have used more complex, task-specific software (such as a $600,000 video editor) where efficiency is paramount, but I have yet to encounter a professionally useful software application that did not require explanation as to how to use it. I consider TextMate to be geared towards professionals who essentially create and edit structured text for a living. I fully expect TextMate to require explanation, if it is to be truly as efficient as say, vim or Emacs. Indeed it must, because both those apps have a very strong conceptual framework that they work in.
Giving a preferences explanation after invoking the Preferences menu command is simply a convenient time to explain a feature (not a design flaw, at least as far as the creator's are concerned) of TextMate at a time when the user is likely to be extremely receptive to such information. (A tip-of-the-day is for, well, tips–not the application's philosophy of use.)
What most people mean by a "design flaw" is something that "once you understand the application (which hopefully didn't take much time/effort)", doesn't make sense according to that understanding. By that metric, the preferences "flaw" in TextMate is not explaining TextMate to the user, so that they expected it to be like the other's they already knew. There's no harm in explaining things, so long as the explanation makes sense. People can learn (and seem to enjoy it, if it makes their life better).
The number one job of any UI designer is to establish a "contract" of sorts with the user as to how the software works, and then to make damn sure that it actually does. That's much harder than it looks, but it's where greatness lies. TextMate's developers at least seem to be on the path...
Regards,
Eric Ocean
On 7/10-2004, at 20:32, Eric Ocean wrote:
On Oct 7, 2004, at 11:16 AM, Michael Gregoire wrote:
I also think that if needs to be explained, then there is definitely a design flaw.
I'm not sure where this bit of "wisdom" originated, but it's simply not true [...] [...] The number one job of any UI designer is to establish a "contract" of sorts with the user as to how the software works, and then to make damn sure that it actually does. That's much harder than it looks, but it's where greatness lies. TextMate's developers at least seem to be on the path...
I think your mail is really spot-on, Eric (and not just the part I quoted) :-). I also agree that, as long as there is no preferences (they won't come up in two days as 1.0.1 or anything like that), it is a good solution in the meantime. Now let's see what Allan thinks about it :-).
No software needs to explain that why there is a lack of preferences...even "PROFESSIONAL" software. That's because they HAVE preferences. Standard usability. Like I said before. It is a design flaw if you need to place an explanation where the preferences should be in order to avoid including preferences.
Let's see, if I look for Preferences in the menu and then I have along winded explanation why there are no preferences after I've selected the "preferences" menu item, that seems to me to be rather useless, better off not having preferences in the menu. Of course I still feel strongly that there should be a preference pane.
On Oct 7, 2004, at 2:32 PM, Eric Ocean wrote:
On Oct 7, 2004, at 11:16 AM, Michael Gregoire wrote:
I also think that if needs to be explained, then there is definitely a design flaw.
I'm not sure where this bit of "wisdom" originated, but it's simply not true. I'm not sure how many of TextMate's user base have used more complex, task-specific software (such as a $600,000 video editor) where efficiency is paramount, but I have yet to encounter a professionally useful software application that did not require explanation as to how to use it. I consider TextMate to be geared towards professionals who essentially create and edit structured text for a living. I fully expect TextMate to require explanation, if it is to be truly as efficient as say, vim or Emacs. Indeed it must, because both those apps have a very strong conceptual framework that they work in.
Giving a preferences explanation after invoking the Preferences menu command is simply a convenient time to explain a feature (not a design flaw, at least as far as the creator's are concerned) of TextMate at a time when the user is likely to be extremely receptive to such information. (A tip-of-the-day is for, well, tips–not the application's philosophy of use.)
What most people mean by a "design flaw" is something that "once you understand the application (which hopefully didn't take much time/effort)", doesn't make sense according to that understanding. By that metric, the preferences "flaw" in TextMate is not explaining TextMate to the user, so that they expected it to be like the other's they already knew. There's no harm in explaining things, so long as the explanation makes sense. People can learn (and seem to enjoy it, if it makes their life better).
The number one job of any UI designer is to establish a "contract" of sorts with the user as to how the software works, and then to make damn sure that it actually does. That's much harder than it looks, but it's where greatness lies. TextMate's developers at least seem to be on the path...
Regards,
Eric Ocean _______________________________________________ textmate mailing list textmate@lists.macromates.com http://lists.macromates.com/mailman/listinfo/textmate
Alright, let's give this subject a rest for a while. We are starting to hear the same arguments being repeated, and I am not going to contribute to that now. Allan is quite burdened with a lot of personal mail (about TextMate) at the moment, and has little time to read this list. I am helping by keeping him up to date with what seems to be the most common discussions.
For now: If you can't stand the editor because of the lack of prefs, don't use it. I am not trying to scare people away, but seriously... a prefs window is not about to appear in the next four days, so... now that you all know it's not there and won't look for it anymore, try to see what you can do WITHOUT it. Justin made a good point about this earlier as well.
No one is saying they can't stand the software. Just trying to reinforce the fact that preferences should be included in future versions.
On Oct 7, 2004, at 2:43 PM, Sune Foldager wrote:
Alright, let's give this subject a rest for a while. We are starting to hear the same arguments being repeated, and I am not going to contribute to that now. Allan is quite burdened with a lot of personal mail (about TextMate) at the moment, and has little time to read this list. I am helping by keeping him up to date with what seems to be the most common discussions.
For now: If you can't stand the editor because of the lack of prefs, don't use it. I am not trying to scare people away, but seriously... a prefs window is not about to appear in the next four days, so... now that you all know it's not there and won't look for it anymore, try to see what you can do WITHOUT it. Justin made a good point about this earlier as well.
-- Sune. "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" http://cyanite.org -- Content follows ;-).
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