4 ms·

Interesting. You’re the first person to ask for same tab opening. But it might make sense for this particular case. I’ll have a think.

phphphphp 4y ago
A link should always open in the same tab by default, unless there’s a compelling reason otherwise: for users who prefer to open in a new tab (like myself) they can use the appropriate shortcuts, menu options or click combinations. If you configure links to open in a new tab, it’s impossible for a user to open it in the same tab.
mkl 4y ago
I think trust people to know and do what they want: left click or middle click. The problem with making the new-tab choice for them is they can't click in such a way as to keep the same tab. I have literally written browser extensions to fix auto-new-tab links, it's that frustrating.
- manuelmoreale 4y ago
  This is a compelling enough argument for me to switch the default.
  - pessimizer 4y ago
    Another data point: I open almost every link in a new tab, but I also find it very frustrating when a link opens in a new tab by default.
erellsworth 4y ago
I'm the opposite. I actually wrote a small browser extension to make HN links open in a new tab because it annoys me so much. I can't disagree with what others have said about making it user-choice though. Maybe some kind of toggle switch that lets users set the behavior one way or the other would work?
- entropie 4y ago
  You that you can open in new tabs with ctrl+click? Just to be sure.
  - erellsworth 4y ago
    Yes, I'm aware. I'd rather not have to remember to do it every time though. Just personal preference.
- prometheus76 4y ago
  In chrome-based browsers, you can also middle-click (mouse wheel click) a link to open it as a new tab.
  - mkl 4y ago
    That predates Chrome by many years, in Firefox if not Opera, Konqueror, etc.
  - erellsworth 4y ago
    99% of the time I'm using a laptop trackpad, not a mouse.
RajT88 4y ago
I would agree that same-tab is desirable and the rest of us can use ctrl+click according to our preference.

phphphphp 4y ago

A link should always open in the same tab by default, unless there’s a compelling reason otherwise: for users who prefer to open in a new tab (like myself) they can use the appropriate shortcuts, menu options or click combinations. If you configure links to open in a new tab, it’s impossible for a user to open it in the same tab.

mkl 4y ago

I think trust people to know and do what they want: left click or middle click. The problem with making the new-tab choice for them is they can't click in such a way as to keep the same tab. I have literally written browser extensions to fix auto-new-tab links, it's that frustrating.

manuelmoreale 4y ago
This is a compelling enough argument for me to switch the default.
- pessimizer 4y ago
  Another data point: I open almost every link in a new tab, but I also find it very frustrating when a link opens in a new tab by default.

erellsworth 4y ago

I'm the opposite. I actually wrote a small browser extension to make HN links open in a new tab because it annoys me so much. I can't disagree with what others have said about making it user-choice though. Maybe some kind of toggle switch that lets users set the behavior one way or the other would work?

entropie 4y ago
You that you can open in new tabs with ctrl+click? Just to be sure.
- erellsworth 4y ago
  Yes, I'm aware. I'd rather not have to remember to do it every time though. Just personal preference.
prometheus76 4y ago
In chrome-based browsers, you can also middle-click (mouse wheel click) a link to open it as a new tab.
- mkl 4y ago
  That predates Chrome by many years, in Firefox if not Opera, Konqueror, etc.
- erellsworth 4y ago
  99% of the time I'm using a laptop trackpad, not a mouse.

RajT88 4y ago

I would agree that same-tab is desirable and the rest of us can use ctrl+click according to our preference.