Following up on Michael Lopp’s “Stagnation” story posted earlier today, Daniel Jalkut give us his thoughts.
But what really frustrates me in this case is the software has served him perfectly, and he thanks it with a slap to the face. It’s one thing to denigrate a product for failing to meet your expectations, or for exhibiting a clear lack of craftsmanship, but Lopp admits that those problems do not apply.
I tend to agree with this more than the original article. The “what have you done for me lately” attitude on the Internet makes me crazy, and catering to it doesn’t really do an app developer any good. You could even look at it in terms of iOS 7. Apple did a big overhaul, and the hive mind bitched. If Apple hadn’t changed anything, the hive mind would have bitched that they’re getting stale. Everything is amazing, and nobody is happy.
If an app does what it’s supposed to do, who cares if it’s not wowing you with new features every two days? If it’s really doing what it’s supposed to do automatically without you having to babysit it, that’s a good app. The only exception is if other apps or services have things that make your life even easier than the one you’re using but have the exact same end result.
It’s sad that these days I don’t feel like I can do a Google search on ANY product or service that I’m interested in, whether it’s tech related or not, without having to sort through about 15 different hit pieces on that product or service. The Internet is too full of “experts” these days.
I agree with Jalkut, too. Lopp lost me when he asked “Why hasn’t the artwork changed in forever?” Really? You’re ditching a solid app because the icon is the same as when you bought it? Weak.
Lopp said:
“The issue that pushed me over the edge had nothing to do with
“functionality or stability, but stagnation. I was performing my morning
scrub on Things when I realized that nothing much had changed in Things
UI in, well, years.”
Really, an application that lists your tasks does not change much, what the hell do you expect it to do. Feed your cat and milk your Yaks?
“Part of me has been fine with this lack of change
because I don’t need my productivity system to do much more than capture
a task, allow me to easily categorize and prioritize tasks, make it
easy to search and filter them, and do all this work frictionlessly. Things does these things well, I thought to myself, “I don’t need
anything else.”
So you admit it does milk your cats and feed your yaks?
So what you are bitching about is that it doesnt look as cool as you think youi are.
Its a list application, if you can’t work pen and paper then this ins exactly what you need, you are too ‘hip’ to bother with old school obviously.
Does it function to remind you to do things? Yes? Then deal with the fact its not got a hipster moustache and pork-pie hat icon.
Does the UI annoy you because it is not a hipster application, then go die in a corner.
yeah that line irked me as well. why do i want the app artwork constantly changing? i dont. i like familiarity.
I agree. If your software has flaws – diss it. If it doesn’t deliver what it promised – throw it out. If support ignores you – delete it. If you need to get your job done but the app slows you down – give it bad reviews.
But spending a weekend transferring your data to another app and getting used to the new one just because you suddenly find the interface somewhat old fashioned? Goodness! This is not stagnation, this is boredom on his side. I sure know better things to do in my time…
The entire point of an Icon is that you should be able to easily map it to the program it runs, yes!
(Interior artwork is another matter, but still – the point is to make function clear and to look good.
If it wasn’t ugly as sin or hiding function, it doesn’t need to be changed for change’s sake – which causes unfamiliarity in seasoned users.)
I disagree with his take. Apple made software updates require lightening speed dev with the intro to the App Store and yearly OS updates. We expect things much faster now.
As a dev, I respect Daniel’s position but as a user I left Things a long while back over stagnation. My world became multi-device and Things simply was not that. Hearing it is still the same UI leads me to believe I made the right decision.
Software is personal. Seeing the same UI for N years does not thrill anyone. Perception is reality so we have to keep our customers attention through timely, and at times, delightful updates.