I get that your software is “unique, cutting edge, and awesome sauce” and that everyone will be beating down your doors to use it. But there are some things that just shouldn’t be done because they aren’t the norm; aren’t what people expect.
Don’t make the user think.
- “Borderless” window – No border? Using transparencies to have nice rounded edges, or even a circular interface? Great. Your program sticks out like a sore thumb on my very rectangular screen, with rectangular windows. I cannot resize or manipulate your shape in any way. Default functionality was BROKEN so that your software could look like this. Was it necessary? What benefit was gained from making it this way? More time was spent making the custom form than the rest of the program, I am sure.
- Non Existent File Menu- The file menu; something that people hate and love, there are only a few situations where having no file menu is appropriate, mostly when the software requires no human intervention. Just because you can remember 400+ key combination commands for your software, doesn’t mean everyone else can/will/should. Software should have this, whether its the default file menu bar, a ribbon, or something that vaguely resembles a menu that can show users the functionality of your software.
- Non Standard File Menu Structure – What, too good for conventions? Users have been trained for years on how to use a standard menu structure; most don’t even look any more when clicking on the file menu. They know Exit is last, New File is first, Open is next, Save and Save As are in the middle. Changing this only serves to confuse and frustrate the user. I know you want your awesome “File>Do Everything and Order me a Pizza” menu, but you won’t be doing your users a favor.
- “Check For Update” Doesn’t Update – I like to keep my software up to date; and applications that check, alert the user of an update, and then automatically download and install said update are wonderful. What isn’t is a program that will check, alert and then launch your browser to the main page of their site to download the base installation file again. That’s not updating, that’s installing the latest version… If you called it “Get Latest Version” I’d be fine; I would not expect it to just update the program.
Could you imagine that when you went to update your OS it brought you to a page to download an ISO image to install? - Floating, Non Dockable Windows – You went that extra mile to allow the tools of your application to be placed anywhere the user wants them, great. How about when I want them docked to the Application? I have not come across this very often, but when I do… it’s very annoying. Paint.NET is my biggest gripe; I love it to death, but I’d like to be able to dock the tool windows to the sides.
- A million settings, but no Import/Export in sight – This is mainly just a hassle. Your software supports a wide array of user settings, to truly allow the user to feel at home; to get everything the way they like it… but no way to backup or transfer those settings to another computer. File systems crash, become corrupted or overwritten; if you have more than a handful of settings, the user should be able to export.
- Normal Button Use – Tab should move the cursor to the next relevant field; Enter should close any “Ok” popup; Escape SHOULD CLOSE POPUP WINDOWS/MESSAGES.
