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Free software scares normal people

(danieldelaney.net)
917 points cryptophreak | 1 comments | 30 Oct 25 15:07 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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jfengel ◴[30 Oct 25 16:39 UTC] No.45762010[source]▶
As a UX guy, I'd like to note that the normal people aren't so great at knowing what they want, either.

I dread "Can you add a button..." Or worse, "Can you add a check box..." Not only does that make it worse for other users, it also makes it worse for you, even if you don't realize it yet.

What you need is to take their use case and imagine other ways to get there. Often that means completely turning their idea on its head. It can even help if you're not in the trenches with them, and can look at the bigger picture rather than the thing that is interfering with their current work flow.

replies(1): >>45765732 #
1. hexbin010 ◴[30 Oct 25 21:43 UTC] No.45765732[source]▶
Sometimes we really do just want a checkbox toggle though :D

Eg an app to prevent MacOS going to sleep. I want a checkbox to also stop an external display sleeping. I don't need my entire usage of the app and my computer-feature desires analysed and interpreted in a way that would make a psychoanalyst look like a hack.

But yes in a professional setting people do use "Can we add a button" to attempt to subvert your skillset, your experience, to take control of the implementation, and to bypass solid analysis and development practices