4 ms·

Too much of modern consumer-facing software think they're the ends, not the means.

davnicwil 5mo ago
this is so true and I think it's very instructive to have a regular look through this lens when thinking about building something. You've got to think and care deeply about what you're creating while at the same time understanding it's of approximately zero interest to those who you're building for outside certain key moments of interaction. Try to just nail those as much as possible and beyond that, get out of the way. I think this is the core of good design, that things make sense, are nice, and well explained to the point they are even fun to discover and explore when you care to go looking for them. If you don't care to, they're invisible and out of your way.
zbentley 5mo ago
But but but … how else will we turn a minor value add into a sticky source of recurring revenue? After all, there are no other profitable business models.
Gigachad 5mo ago
It’s the hyper focusing on metrics. When a new feature comes out, the product people and managers are obsessing over the usage metrics for that one feature. It’s why Windows feels like multiple different companies desperate for your attention, with internal adverts begging you to look at their new feature. Because that team needs people using it to look good on the analytics. Vs a company like Apple which seems to operate at a higher level, they don’t care if you use iMovie or not, it’s there if you want it but they aren’t going to push every individual feature on you.
- mschild 5mo ago
  Apple has plenty examples of that behaviour as well. To name one: if you ever connect any headphones with media controls and you accidentally press one of them while no media is playing, it will open up Apple Music. Its convoluted to stop that behaviour. Its not as bad as Microslop but it does exist.
- pjmlp 5mo ago
  Yes, Microsoft suffers from schizophrenic management, it is easier for externals to talk between teams than internal teams themselves, there are quite a few stories on the matter. Apple really doesn't care how apps are used, Radar issues go untouched for several releases. EDIT: missing "management".
jorisw 5mo ago
That, and they forget they’re just one single experience in a person’s day of hundreds. The trivial part of the user’s day that the app represents, in no way warrants interruption.
- tardedmeme 5mo ago
  Most of their managers want to be a bigger percentage of your day though.

this is so true and I think it's very instructive to have a regular look through this lens when thinking about building something. You've got to think and care deeply about what you're creating while at the same time understanding it's of approximately zero interest to those who you're building for outside certain key moments of interaction. Try to just nail those as much as possible and beyond that, get out of the way. I think this is the core of good design, that things make sense, are nice, and well explained to the point they are even fun to discover and explore when you care to go looking for them. If you don't care to, they're invisible and out of your way.

zbentley 5mo ago

But but but … how else will we turn a minor value add into a sticky source of recurring revenue? After all, there are no other profitable business models.

Gigachad 5mo ago

It’s the hyper focusing on metrics. When a new feature comes out, the product people and managers are obsessing over the usage metrics for that one feature. It’s why Windows feels like multiple different companies desperate for your attention, with internal adverts begging you to look at their new feature. Because that team needs people using it to look good on the analytics. Vs a company like Apple which seems to operate at a higher level, they don’t care if you use iMovie or not, it’s there if you want it but they aren’t going to push every individual feature on you.

mschild 5mo ago
Apple has plenty examples of that behaviour as well. To name one: if you ever connect any headphones with media controls and you accidentally press one of them while no media is playing, it will open up Apple Music. Its convoluted to stop that behaviour. Its not as bad as Microslop but it does exist.
pjmlp 5mo ago
Yes, Microsoft suffers from schizophrenic management, it is easier for externals to talk between teams than internal teams themselves, there are quite a few stories on the matter. Apple really doesn't care how apps are used, Radar issues go untouched for several releases. EDIT: missing "management".

jorisw 5mo ago

That, and they forget they’re just one single experience in a person’s day of hundreds. The trivial part of the user’s day that the app represents, in no way warrants interruption.

tardedmeme 5mo ago
Most of their managers want to be a bigger percentage of your day though.