[Psi-devel] Usability.

[Dawid Ciezarkiewicz]

On Tuesday 15 of February 2005 17:27, Mircea Bardac (IceRAM) wrote:
> Please remember that:
> 0. developers' time is limited

Nobody told me "there is no time for this now". I really understand that 
coding needs time and I not wish to take a pressure on you to do what I want. 
But I heard only "you can do this manually - so what's the point?" and I 
think this is wrong thinking.


> *. Next version (Psi 0.10 - Faces of Conversation) focuses on improving
> usability & providing a better user experience (therefore, the core of the
> app is not going to be changed much for 0.10).

And this is why I'm proposing such improvements. This feature is not changing 
anything in the core. IMO It's just little - almost cosmetic - change.


I can't agree that I'm trying to mis-use "auto away after" (this is how is it 
called in options) functionality. Why it should be used _only_ for 
accidentally left computer? Why I can't use it with premeditation? Why are 
you consciously trying to crop possible functionality?

And this is not the first time you're doing so. For example: playing sound 
while DND. Yes, I know that "DND" means "Do Not Disturb", but maybe someone 
would like to be DND just to inform everybody that he does not want to 
receive messages but he is waiting for one important message (from his 
sweetheart for example). Why you don't let him to do so with Psi? Is this one 
"play sound when DND" chceckbox, few if(){}s in code and one entry in 
config.xml too high price? Reasonable default is to be silent when DND but 
why don't you let me shoot myself in a foot if I really need it?

I agree that for most of these little functionalists can be done with plugins, 
code reorganization, new full-featured functionality etc. etc. But does users 
have to wait so much time to get something you could easily give them right 
now and replace it with something better in future? Does this guy from upper 
paragraph have to wait till roster will be rewritten and "customizing 
contacts notifications" will be done? Do I (same guy ;) ) will have to wait 
until plugin system will be implemented to get "auto status switching" based 
on "mis-using" of "auto away after". I will probably make such a small 
hack-patch for myself (same as I did for getting rid of date in chat dialog, 
changing nick coloring, playing sound when DND) but is this right way?

I'm saying it all with great respect for all Psi developer. If any of this 
words sound as being rude - it's only fault of my English, not because I 
wanted to be rude. You may consider me as a troll - I don't care, but please 
understand me - Psi *is* the best cross-platform jabber client and I sure it 
will be even more better every time you commit something to CVS but this one 
point in philosophy of Psi developing: "if we can't make it perfect, let not 
make it all until we can" is worse for users than "lets make it right working 
for now and replace it with something perfect when we can". I thought that 
taking lead by Kev and words "faces of conversation" are little move in this 
side. And still I do not loos my hope.

Regards, (I stop trolling now).
-- 
Dawid Ciężarkiewicz | arael
jid: arael at fov.pl