4 ms·

nope, I prefer open in new tab by default

kpopendurer 4mo ago
In general, it's better not to force an action onto users. You might prefer things opening in a new tab, but you always have that option. If it's forced on users, it is frustrating for those who would prefer that not to happen.
- ffsm8 4mo ago
  And yet we're here, discussing how a developer should change their own application because their preference is wrong If you don't like it, adjust it for yourself with an extension or script.
  - adrithmetiqa 4mo ago
    Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here.
    - jaapz 4mo ago
      the difference is that with tab-open default, there is no way for me to open the link in this window with this-window default (or actually, the browser-default-default), I can middle click and it'll open in a new tab regardless pretty funny to have this discussion though, takes me back to the HTML4 and XHTML days
      - cstever 4mo ago
        XHTML ftw :)
    - hk__2 4mo ago
      Yes there is a right and wrong. The default browser behavior is the design that every user expects, so unless there is a very strong argument for a different way, this is the _right_ design.
    - locknitpicker 4mo ago
      > Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here. I don't agree. If your design choice forces a user flow that is surprising, awkward, and redundant then it's definitely the wrong choice. It's still a call to be made by the design team, though.
  - superxpro12 4mo ago
    i mean, is a small user preferences page out of the question here? the majority of web users arent going to write a js extension.
    - ffsm8 4mo ago
      You don't need to write one? Just write a ublock origin rule, use grease monkey or whatever is used nowadays. Or just configure your browser to ignore the target param, eg browser.link.open_newwindow_restriction 0 in about:config The fact I've gotten so many down votes for my previous comment really nails the point down how HN isn't really used by technical people anymore. It's mostly idiots with opinions.
      - edoceo 4mo ago
        Wrong again. The idiots here are arguing to follow default, de-facto specifications and to give users an easy accessible choice.
- complianceowll 4mo ago
  [flagged]
chrysoprace 4mo ago
That's a good user setting, but as opening in the same tab is the default browser behaviour then it should really stay that way. Opening in a new tab takes control away from the user.
- reactordev 4mo ago
  Next they’ll be defending full screen div paywalls.
- el_io 4mo ago
  Exactly. I prefer to open in the same page. If I want to open in new tab then I can always Ctrl + Click. I don't think I can do the reverse though.
- RossBencina 4mo ago
  This. Principle of least surprise.
AbuAssar 4mo ago
why the downvotes, I meant to demonstrate that I prefer the current behaviour so the site developer knows.
- markdown 4mo ago
  The downvoters meant to demonstrate that they prefer the standard/expected behavior and would like OP to ignore your opinion on the matter.
  - kbelder 4mo ago
    I didn't downvote, because the poster had a reasonable opinion stated politely, but I still really hope the OP ignores his opinion.
- billnad 4mo ago
  I like the new tab as well. Otherwise I will forget what I went to. My process is to go through an interesting site, like HN, and then be able to see these interesting sites after that. I guess it depends on a persons web workflow though
- Wilduck 4mo ago
  The downvotes are because the discussion isn't really about "which option do users prefer". It's actually about returning user choice. As the original comment said: "If I want a separate tab, I can Cmd+click and Browsers don't have the reverse option for opening in the same window." So when you say "Nope!", you're being downvoted because you're implicitly saying "actually users don't deserve choice".
- SilentM68 4mo ago
  Don't feel bad. I've been down-votted and banned into obscurity meerly for providing my opinion. Do as I did, get a gigantic list of all legislators and government officials, sent them a nice letter informing them of how HN's policies are rotten to the core. In my case I took screenshots, sent those too. When I post something such as now, only I can see it while logged in. When logged off, I can't see my posts. Will take pictures in both states, send those pictures to those legislators in my list :) Sol Roth Annex HN
akoboldfrying 4mo ago
And people who prefer the other way can just hold down _____ while clicking to open it in the current tab instead. Good ol' _____-clicking saves the day again!
- em-bee 4mo ago
  only on a mac, and probably only on safari which leaves the majority of people in the lurch.
  - akoboldfrying 4mo ago
    I was trying to sarcastically imply that no such same-tab-enabling key existed, and that this was therefore a bad suggestion. (Didn't know it does exist on Safari either!)
    - em-bee 4mo ago
      oh, sorry, your suggestion wasn't unrealistic enough to not be believable so my sarcasm detector failed. i took ___ to mean the option key which has this symbol made up of lines: "⌥", it is also the key most likely to be used for such a feature, so i figured that's what you must be talking about. if you weren't then the key most certainly doesn't exist on a mac either, and i apologize for the downvote. unfortunately it appears that i can't undo it anymore so i hope someone else will compensate with an upvote.
      - akoboldfrying 4mo ago
        No worries :)
  - deleted 4mo ago
    [deleted]
Telaneo 4mo ago
I too prefer that, but i don't want to force that choice on othet people. CTRL+left click is ingrained in me now anyway.
netfortius 4mo ago
100% agree. I had to install a browser extension when I use HN with such (vs app on android, when it does it by default), just to force open links to new tabs.
- wredcoll 4mo ago
  Have you considered middle clicking instead of leftclicking?
  - dotproto 4mo ago
    Ctrl+Click / Cmd+Click also opens in a new tab.
rafterydj 4mo ago
I do as well, but I think it's good practice to put something like in a user preference setting somewhere if you are going to stray from default browser/system behavior.
giancarlostoro 4mo ago
I'd rather have an icon next to the link that implies "Open in new Tab" like one of these with the arrow: https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/new-tab https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/new-tab
- locknitpicker 4mo ago
  > I'd rather have an icon next to the link that implies "Open in new Tab" like one of these with the arrow: That is a valid option for detachable UI elements seen in desktop apps. Opening links in a separate tab or window is not that thought. That is a first class user flow in web design.
janaagaard 4mo ago
Yeah, I get that some prefer it the other way around. The HTML anchor should have a target="_self_or_blank_depending_on_what_the_user_has_configured" option.

In general, it's better not to force an action onto users. You might prefer things opening in a new tab, but you always have that option. If it's forced on users, it is frustrating for those who would prefer that not to happen.

ffsm8 4mo ago
And yet we're here, discussing how a developer should change their own application because their preference is wrong If you don't like it, adjust it for yourself with an extension or script.
- adrithmetiqa 4mo ago
  Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here.
  - jaapz 4mo ago
    the difference is that with tab-open default, there is no way for me to open the link in this window with this-window default (or actually, the browser-default-default), I can middle click and it'll open in a new tab regardless pretty funny to have this discussion though, takes me back to the HTML4 and XHTML days
    - cstever 4mo ago
      XHTML ftw :)
  - hk__2 4mo ago
    Yes there is a right and wrong. The default browser behavior is the design that every user expects, so unless there is a very strong argument for a different way, this is the _right_ design.
  - locknitpicker 4mo ago
    > Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here. I don't agree. If your design choice forces a user flow that is surprising, awkward, and redundant then it's definitely the wrong choice. It's still a call to be made by the design team, though.
- superxpro12 4mo ago
  i mean, is a small user preferences page out of the question here? the majority of web users arent going to write a js extension.
  - ffsm8 4mo ago
    You don't need to write one? Just write a ublock origin rule, use grease monkey or whatever is used nowadays. Or just configure your browser to ignore the target param, eg browser.link.open_newwindow_restriction 0 in about:config The fact I've gotten so many down votes for my previous comment really nails the point down how HN isn't really used by technical people anymore. It's mostly idiots with opinions.
    - edoceo 4mo ago
      Wrong again. The idiots here are arguing to follow default, de-facto specifications and to give users an easy accessible choice.
complianceowll 4mo ago
[flagged]

chrysoprace 4mo ago

That's a good user setting, but as opening in the same tab is the default browser behaviour then it should really stay that way. Opening in a new tab takes control away from the user.

reactordev 4mo ago
Next they’ll be defending full screen div paywalls.
el_io 4mo ago
Exactly. I prefer to open in the same page. If I want to open in new tab then I can always Ctrl + Click. I don't think I can do the reverse though.
RossBencina 4mo ago
This. Principle of least surprise.

AbuAssar 4mo ago

why the downvotes, I meant to demonstrate that I prefer the current behaviour so the site developer knows.

markdown 4mo ago
The downvoters meant to demonstrate that they prefer the standard/expected behavior and would like OP to ignore your opinion on the matter.
- kbelder 4mo ago
  I didn't downvote, because the poster had a reasonable opinion stated politely, but I still really hope the OP ignores his opinion.
billnad 4mo ago
I like the new tab as well. Otherwise I will forget what I went to. My process is to go through an interesting site, like HN, and then be able to see these interesting sites after that. I guess it depends on a persons web workflow though
Wilduck 4mo ago
The downvotes are because the discussion isn't really about "which option do users prefer". It's actually about returning user choice. As the original comment said: "If I want a separate tab, I can Cmd+click and Browsers don't have the reverse option for opening in the same window." So when you say "Nope!", you're being downvoted because you're implicitly saying "actually users don't deserve choice".
SilentM68 4mo ago
Don't feel bad. I've been down-votted and banned into obscurity meerly for providing my opinion. Do as I did, get a gigantic list of all legislators and government officials, sent them a nice letter informing them of how HN's policies are rotten to the core. In my case I took screenshots, sent those too. When I post something such as now, only I can see it while logged in. When logged off, I can't see my posts. Will take pictures in both states, send those pictures to those legislators in my list :) Sol Roth Annex HN

akoboldfrying 4mo ago

And people who prefer the other way can just hold down _____ while clicking to open it in the current tab instead. Good ol' _____-clicking saves the day again!

em-bee 4mo ago
only on a mac, and probably only on safari which leaves the majority of people in the lurch.
- akoboldfrying 4mo ago
  I was trying to sarcastically imply that no such same-tab-enabling key existed, and that this was therefore a bad suggestion. (Didn't know it does exist on Safari either!)
  - em-bee 4mo ago
    oh, sorry, your suggestion wasn't unrealistic enough to not be believable so my sarcasm detector failed. i took ___ to mean the option key which has this symbol made up of lines: "⌥", it is also the key most likely to be used for such a feature, so i figured that's what you must be talking about. if you weren't then the key most certainly doesn't exist on a mac either, and i apologize for the downvote. unfortunately it appears that i can't undo it anymore so i hope someone else will compensate with an upvote.
    - akoboldfrying 4mo ago
      No worries :)
- deleted 4mo ago
  [deleted]

Telaneo 4mo ago

I too prefer that, but i don't want to force that choice on othet people. CTRL+left click is ingrained in me now anyway.

netfortius 4mo ago

100% agree. I had to install a browser extension when I use HN with such (vs app on android, when it does it by default), just to force open links to new tabs.

wredcoll 4mo ago
Have you considered middle clicking instead of leftclicking?
- dotproto 4mo ago
  Ctrl+Click / Cmd+Click also opens in a new tab.

rafterydj 4mo ago

I do as well, but I think it's good practice to put something like in a user preference setting somewhere if you are going to stray from default browser/system behavior.

giancarlostoro 4mo ago

I'd rather have an icon next to the link that implies "Open in new Tab" like one of these with the arrow: https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/new-tab https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/new-tab

locknitpicker 4mo ago
> I'd rather have an icon next to the link that implies "Open in new Tab" like one of these with the arrow: That is a valid option for detachable UI elements seen in desktop apps. Opening links in a separate tab or window is not that thought. That is a first class user flow in web design.

janaagaard 4mo ago

Yeah, I get that some prefer it the other way around. The HTML anchor should have a target="_self_or_blank_depending_on_what_the_user_has_configured" option.