That was my first thought too...
"... Only after bringing Project Satan to live did they discover they had made a horrible mistake. For you see, it was pure evil!"
Goodness, what a torrent of replies. Allow me to address some things:
- Public forums are not a good place to discuss interface design. Why don't open source projects interview people who want to act as "user consultants"?
- Yes, for-profit software developers don't listen to every single user's suggestion; I can understand how "feature creep" could become a big problem in that regard. However, for-profit has to deliver a decent product with features a majority of its users want. If they don't, they lose business, and profit.
- A totally immodest comment, but I am not, in fact, the exact type of person you should be catering to? I'm a system administrator mostly, and while I enjoy using Thunderbird at my own workstation, I wouldn't dare give it to my users, because of the bugs and inadequacies. If open source software works and is stable, I can push to have it deployed at our entire organization, and translate users' concerns into concise and coherent input. Doesn't that sound nice?
Please don't belittle me. Software is made for users, not developers.
"However, users are clueless about what they really want and you can't possibly use them to write the specs of your product!"
This demonstrates the inherent problem with open source's attitude towards user demands. To them you are either (a) a Programmer, or (b) a Grandma.
I'm an IT professional, a power user, and consider myself a connoisseur of good interface design. But I've never coded a line of C++ in my entire life. Does this make my input useless?
For example, I've been trying to get bugs in Thunderbird fixed for a while that seriously impede usability, but the development team doesn't seem to care.
Open source is always talking about how they can win over more users. But how do you win over users if you don't focus on usability?
Everyone who voted for House, turn in your nerd badges and calculators. You're through.
Actually, I've heard of people who make it at home using limes and oranges. Sounds delicious. Check the google for more info.
Mmmm... liquid candy!
*passes out*
Sorry, error in the description
Michael Carin is the author of the article
Bill Martinson is the victim of defamation
Cobol programmers are down in the dumps.