Re: Thin Clients

Charles,

The problem is that programmers think they know all this stuff because they
are techies. You are right about "we" not learning it all. But, IMO, we
should learn ABOUT it. We need some basic understanding of many things that
are not technical programming topics, but few of us are willing to admit we
do. So many programmers design the crappiest web sites, but think they are
beautiful. In the same way, so many programmers write blogs, who cannot
write. We think we are invulnerable and super-human, apparently :-)

I recently bought this book, and recommend it for everyone. It is called:
Apple Human Interface Guidelines: The Apple Desktop Interface
I got it from abebooks.com. I recommend the one written in 1986, as the
principles still apply. If you want the current one, you can read it here:
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/UserExperience/Conceptual/OSXHIGuid
elines/XHIGIntro/chapter_1_section_1.html

This book makes you think about the "user experience" - something most
important for building applications. Even if you cannot code some of these
principles, it is really nice to know them.

An ideal team for building new applications comprises a technical
designer/developer, a graphical designer, and users. Each of them should
have a small understanding of what the others do, but should not dictate the
other's solution. They should guide and drive the project. The hardest part
is that most System i developers don't think highly of the users, and tend
to negate what they say. So, there is even some paradigms to modify before a
successful modern application can be developed and implemented.

Of course, this discussion simply touches the tip of the UI iceberg.

How is this for a non-trivial question: Who knows how many "web safe" colors
there are, and why and when they should be used?

Trevor



On 9/13/07 4:20 PM, "Wilt, Charles" <WiltC@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Trevor Perry
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 3:33 PM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: Thin Clients

<snip>

And yes, we need to learn more about GUI, UI, Human
Interaction Guidelines, graphic design, and so on. This is
not the world of the usual programmer.
And not the world of most people selling green to GUI tools.
The GUI produced by some just makes people want to go back to
ugly green. Therein lies the problem...

I'm not so sure WE need to or even should learn all that.

While I can put together a functional web site, it won't be really "pretty".
I'm a Software Engineer
not a Graphics Designer or Graphics Artist.

IMHO, one of the biggest problems with GUI applications, is that you have one
(or more) software guys
trying to do all that you mention above. Granted in small shops, you might
not have much choice. But
for critical projects, you really need a team. There is after all a reason
there's a separate degree
for each of the disciplines you mention above.

Sure, there needs to be some cross over. The software guy should know a
little about UI design and
Human Factors Engineering. Depending on the project, he may know enough.

When you've got a software guy doing everything, you'll (probably :-) end up
with a 100% functional
app. But I bet you'll be able to tell it's not a usable or a visually
impressive as it could have
been.

One of the best experiences I had was with a Extranet web site. Consulting
for a small prior
employer, I worked with outside web consulting firm on the site. I handled
writing the stored
procedures on the iSeries that handled the data being passed in and return the
data required. Worked
with the web guy to determine just what was needed where, which he then put
together using Coldfusion
and his graphics designer handled the actual look.

It was a very successful project which was well received by the customers
using it.

Just my .02

Charles