4 ms·

What kind of users/apps are these? I'm genuinely curious about this, actually. I have a couple of apps with 100K+ installs, and I talk to people who are actual

by divan 2y ago

What kind of users/apps are these? I'm genuinely curious about this, actually. I have a couple of apps with 100K+ installs, and I talk to people who are actual users from time to time. I have never ever heard the claim that they don't like UI because it doesn't feel native. Like ever. But I can imagine that in some niches/demographics/app types it might be different. Can you share some evidence or explain how you built the understanding that users dislike non-native UIs?

Eisenstein 2y ago
A lot of people try an app and stop using it. Talking to active users seems you are missing the people who don't like it enough to stop using it.
- divan 2y ago
  I think it may be true only for the apps that are easily replaceable.
- satvikpendem 2y ago
  I've built apps with pretty high retention rate so even if they're annoyed, it doesn't seem like they really stop using them. Mostly though, based on user feedback we collected, not once have I heard anything about UI complaints. It really feels like this is a common refrain on HN about what HNers think happens in theory versus what actually happens in reality wrt user preferences.
  - Eisenstein 2y ago
    Note, this has nothing to do with your app or this specific discussed GUI, but this is something I have noticed over time... I think that what is commonly seen by devs as complaining and being overly concerned with details that don't matter is instead a some of the time advocacy for doing things the right way for the sake of it. It is totally possible to build things that meet the bare minimum requirements for user retention and for people to not complain, but that doesn't mean that it is optimal. You can build Soviet style housing blocks that people live in that are completely functional and that no one will have any problem with, but the quality of life is degraded as opposed to what could have been built. It can be tough seeing through the grumpy nerd 'I want it my way because my way is best' and finding what is actually 'this is a good thing that we should be doing, and if we did there would be a marked improvement for everyone', but I would not forsake one due to the other.
    - satvikpendem 2y ago
      It's more than there is no evidence of an issue, so why pretend that there is? The "right" way is entirely subjective, unless you can give me some objective criteria for what it should be.
      - Eisenstein 2y ago
        The issue in this case is pretty plainly that the application does not subscribe to the conventions of its host UI. I'm sure there is no objective reason why we need to conform to any convention, except that there is one.
        satvikpendem 2y ago
        Then that is subjective too and not really worth caring about, because it comes down to a matter of taste. You like platform conventions, but most people we surveyed simply don't care, the fallacy of vocal minorities and all.
        Eisenstein 2y ago
        I'm sure that Soviet architects would have agreed with you.
        satvikpendem 2y ago
        Perhaps so, as different cultures have different tastes anyway. That you don't like Soviet styles is no indication of whether people in the Union did or didn't like them.

by divan 2y ago

Eisenstein 2y ago

A lot of people try an app and stop using it. Talking to active users seems you are missing the people who don't like it enough to stop using it.

divan 2y ago
I think it may be true only for the apps that are easily replaceable.
satvikpendem 2y ago
I've built apps with pretty high retention rate so even if they're annoyed, it doesn't seem like they really stop using them. Mostly though, based on user feedback we collected, not once have I heard anything about UI complaints. It really feels like this is a common refrain on HN about what HNers think happens in theory versus what actually happens in reality wrt user preferences.
- Eisenstein 2y ago
  Note, this has nothing to do with your app or this specific discussed GUI, but this is something I have noticed over time... I think that what is commonly seen by devs as complaining and being overly concerned with details that don't matter is instead a some of the time advocacy for doing things the right way for the sake of it. It is totally possible to build things that meet the bare minimum requirements for user retention and for people to not complain, but that doesn't mean that it is optimal. You can build Soviet style housing blocks that people live in that are completely functional and that no one will have any problem with, but the quality of life is degraded as opposed to what could have been built. It can be tough seeing through the grumpy nerd 'I want it my way because my way is best' and finding what is actually 'this is a good thing that we should be doing, and if we did there would be a marked improvement for everyone', but I would not forsake one due to the other.
  - satvikpendem 2y ago
    It's more than there is no evidence of an issue, so why pretend that there is? The "right" way is entirely subjective, unless you can give me some objective criteria for what it should be.
    - Eisenstein 2y ago
      The issue in this case is pretty plainly that the application does not subscribe to the conventions of its host UI. I'm sure there is no objective reason why we need to conform to any convention, except that there is one.
      - satvikpendem 2y ago
        Then that is subjective too and not really worth caring about, because it comes down to a matter of taste. You like platform conventions, but most people we surveyed simply don't care, the fallacy of vocal minorities and all.
        Eisenstein 2y ago
        I'm sure that Soviet architects would have agreed with you.
        satvikpendem 2y ago
        Perhaps so, as different cultures have different tastes anyway. That you don't like Soviet styles is no indication of whether people in the Union did or didn't like them.