Re: Gnome style guide

[gandalf pobox com]

On Tue, 20 Apr 1999, Michael Rogers wrote:

>  I remember that when I first saw the unnecessary animations in 
> Windows 95 they annoyed the hell out of me. All these animations do 
> is inform the user that the computer hasn't crashed yet. Instead, why 
> not have the application inform the user if everything is *not* going 
> according to plan, and otherwise keep working unobtrusively and with 
> the minimum of fluff.

on the other hand having some indication that the operation is taking a
while and not just locked up is a good idea, especially if you have users
from systems where applications locking up is somewhat frequent.
Personally I like a (non-animated) hourglass style pointer, this at least
lets them know that the application still thinks it is doing something.
(though i suppose it still could have locked up)

> "The default highlighted button for a dialog should be the safest for 
> the user."
> 
>  In most cases the safest option will be "Cancel". How about making 
> the default button the one which is most convenient for the user - in 
> most cases "OK". This avoids having to switch from keyboard to mouse 
> to select the OK button, or alternatively having to Tab/Alt-Tab 
> around the dialog until you stumble across the "OK" button.
> 
>  The Escape key will be bound to "Cancel" anyway, so why have the 
> Enter key effectively bound to it as well? I understand that you 
> don't want people who are in a hurry to make dangerous mistakes, but 
> forcing them to work more slowly is just going to piss them off. I 
> think this point has already been raised with regard to gmc's dialogs.

this screams to be an option so that "power users" can move quickly and
"newbies" can remain safe.


>  My last complaint is that some of the stock icons that ship with 
> Gnome aren't really suitable for use as menu mini-icons. For example, 

a complaint I have in general with gnome things is that they are too big,
from the icons to the default spacing in dialogs, I prefer clean, tight
UIs.


>  - Michael Rogers
(in a curious personal note, you have the same name as my brother, which
drives me insane (through no fault of yout own) since Pine keeps saying
I have new mail from "Michael Rogers" and I think it is from my him)

-chris

_______________________________________________________
Christopher Rogers      Stevens Institute of Technology
gandalf@pobox.com       http://www.pobox.com/~gandalf

I only see myself, reflected in your eyes, 
so all that I belive I am, essentially are lies. 
				-Stabing Westward (shame)