Re: ANNOUNCE: GNAT Programming System 1.4.0 release

[Preben Randhol <randhol+valid_for_reply_from_news@pvv.org>]

On 2003-11-23, Hyman Rosen <hyrosen@mail.com> wrote:
> Preben Randhol wrote:
>> Who is the best equipped for designing the features of software for
>> programmers? A software decorator who knows how to spell compiler, but
>> not what it is?
>
> You are making the error of equating features with interface.

I'm not making an error. You wanted a UI expert to design the IDE
if I recall. I would rather have better and useful features based on the
experience of the programmers.

Your error is that you think user friendly is an absolute term. LaTeX is
user friendly for me, but Word might be more userfriendly for your, for
example. If you want to make something user friendly you need to define
the target audience and you need to be able to understand how they work.


> Imagine it this way. Suppose we took your favorite IDE and
> redistributed all the key assignments or menu item locations
> randomly. All the features would still be present, but would
> you be as pleased with it?

No, but it has nothing to do with the discussion either. 



-- 
"Saving keystrokes is the job of the text editor, not the programming
 language."