> -----Original Message----- > From: Sean Corfield [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 6:07 PM > To: CF-Community > Subject: Re: eclipse > > >I say again: rarely have I ever seen an application so BLATANTLY > >difficult to use... you might say, INTENTIONALLY difficult to use.
I have to admit this has been my feeling as well. For me, at least, it seems that Eclipse wants to be all things to all people and, as a result, does nothing really well. Different views/perspectives, everything as a draggable window, etc. This presents the same problem as "skins": developers spend more time in attempts to allow customization of the interface than in creating a good interface to begin with. No matter how customizable an interface is unless is has a good foundation to start it just doesn't work. Offer me a million customization options and a crappy default interface and all that says is "here: try cobble together something useful from this steaming pile of options". > Do you feel better for venting? :) > > Why don't you just file bugs / enhancement requests on the Eclipse site? > Or even download the source and fix it (after all, that's why open source > is supposed to be so great...). I assume this is sarcasm. ;^) That argument that "open source means you can change things if you like" does fly for some things. An open-source CFC, for example, is nice for CF programmers. But it breaks down totally when applied to application software where the target audience are people with the skills to build the software. > I agree Eclipse has a steep learning curve but different IDEs handle > things in different ways. For what it's worth, all of the Macromedia > products (on a Mac) seem to use cmd+Z for undo and cmd+Y for redo. Both Windows and Mac OS have usability guides that detail standard behaviors. Shortcut keys for common tasks (and ctrl+z is a big one), windowing behaviors, message formats and the like. Applications which can't take this simple step to "play nice" on the OS in which they run just aren't worth it in my opinion (unless you've no other option at all). I tend to give a lot of leeway to open-source software (especially that which is done by small teams)... but Eclipse has got some heavy-weight behind it. There's just no excuse. Open source software (I'm looking at you Linux and, to a lesser extent, you FireFox) has got to start addressing its interface deficiencies. Jim Davis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Purchase Homesite Plus with Dreamweaver from House of Fusion, a Macromedia Authorized Affiliate and support the CF community. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=55 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:170579 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
