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I don't know if they've disappeared -- maybe the numbers are diminished, but they still exist. Take something like Tableau for instance. If you visit the Table

by wenc 5y ago

I don't know if they've disappeared -- maybe the numbers are diminished, but they still exist. Take something like Tableau for instance. If you visit the Tableau forums, there's some really creative people who are constantly coming up with solutions for dashboard problems, anything from rewriting a SQL query to workarounds with Excel, just to get a dashboard to display the right way. Some of these solutions involve a deep understanding of how to manipulate data (windowing functions, pivots, date arithmetic etc.). And at most big companies, you'll find Excel wizards who do wonderful (but cryptic) things with VBA macros. You'll find full mathematical models embedded as Excel VBA macros. Maintainability aside, you can do some pretty mind-bending things with VBA. There are also the AutoHotkey users who automate GUI tasks by recording mouse/keystrokes and then tweaking them. We had more than a few of those in my last company (bigcorp). If you look outside of the consumer macOS ecosystem, you'll find that power users are alive and well.

kergonath 5y ago
> If you look outside of the consumer macOS ecosystem, you'll find that power users are alive and well. Interesting you say that in a comment thread about an article that mentions several times how macOS and a couple bits of software designed for it helped popularise the command palette (which is a power user-friendly tool). Apple’s OSes have always have advanced features for power users, from the Apple Script of all to Automator and Shortcuts, and all the places where Spotlight is used. MacOS is for noobs is quite far from the truth. Sure, it can be used by noobs, but it does not mean it is restricted to them.
- wenc 5y ago
  I agree with all your points. I think your last point about macOS not just being for noobs is true. I don’t think I implied anything in my comment contrary to it. I do think that despite macOS having these power user tools, their uptake in modern times seems more limited compared to the olden times (System 7-9) and when compared to other platforms. I know I was excited when Automator came out in OS X Tiger but I don’t know anyone who’s really used it outside of folks who publish their workflows.

by wenc 5y ago

kergonath 5y ago

> If you look outside of the consumer macOS ecosystem, you'll find that power users are alive and well. Interesting you say that in a comment thread about an article that mentions several times how macOS and a couple bits of software designed for it helped popularise the command palette (which is a power user-friendly tool). Apple’s OSes have always have advanced features for power users, from the Apple Script of all to Automator and Shortcuts, and all the places where Spotlight is used. MacOS is for noobs is quite far from the truth. Sure, it can be used by noobs, but it does not mean it is restricted to them.

wenc 5y ago
I agree with all your points. I think your last point about macOS not just being for noobs is true. I don’t think I implied anything in my comment contrary to it. I do think that despite macOS having these power user tools, their uptake in modern times seems more limited compared to the olden times (System 7-9) and when compared to other platforms. I know I was excited when Automator came out in OS X Tiger but I don’t know anyone who’s really used it outside of folks who publish their workflows.