[squeak-dev] Default preferences

christoph.thiede at student.hpi.uni-potsdam.de christoph.thiede at student.hpi.uni-potsdam.de
Mon Feb 7 22:27:53 UTC 2022


Hi Marcel, hi all,

let me take another attempt on this amazing comprehensive debate. :-)


#1 Presets

> Don't get me started on a "Novice Mode". There is even research on why this is not a good idea. Only "novices" and "experts". Only two bins. Sure.

I would be interested in reading more details about this. :-) Could you give me a pointer to any publication?

Specifically, I wonder whether a "novice mode" has been revealed as impractical or whether it was the general concept of "preference presets". I'm imagining a single button in the preference wizard "I'm feeling lucky" / "I'm open to change" that interested users could click to get the full charge of "Squeak's unorthodox features". Conversative users (this should not sound degrading) can ignore this button and people who try out Squeak just because they are looking for a different experience could give it a try and maybe toggle back again. This preset should only include a few prefs in the wizard to maintain explorability and reduce confusion. What would you think about that? :-)

I also would like to support this quote by Stef:

> An idea would be to make customized images of different 'styles' available (and advertized) on the site, with an explicit in-your-face statement about the flexibility of Squeak.

***

#2 Preference "Always open tools attached to cursor"

Moved to a new thread, for the sake of clarity. :-)

***

#3 Updated list of proposals for changed default preference values

I have revised and split up my original list of proposals based on your feedback. Please discuss (or just agree :P) the following:

A. "Default defaults":

These are mostly "lost feature flags" which enhance the UX and add nearly zero harm IMHO:

2. Tools
- Show annotation pane in the debugger -> true
- Extra debugger buttons -> true
- Show stack variables in debugger -> maybe? I like it, does it harm?
- Stack Size in Notifier/Full Debugger -> increase by factor 2 or more, should not be a performance issue nowadays, but increases convenience

3. Morphs
- Wrapped tree navigation -> true (just consistent to lists)
- Use the new color-picker -> true (c'mon, this tool is already >11 years old! :p)

B. "I'm feeling lucky" preset (if we decide on introducing one):

1. Windowing
"mouse over for keyboard focus", "open tools attached to mouse cursor", "windows' contents are always active".


Looking forward to your replies!

Best,
Christoph

PS: Does anyone use flaps any longer or should we hide them by default? :-)

---
Sent from Squeak Inbox Talk

On 2022-01-12T14:50:12+01:00, mail at jaromir.net wrote:

> Hi Marcel,
> 
> thanks again for your explanation.
> 
> > Because those three different "tools" around preferences have different use cases:
> > - Extras > "Themes & Colors" / "Scale Factor" ... is for occasional demos or display switching
> > 
> I've never thought about it this way... thanks!
> 
> > Well .. World > Appearance is almost obsolete these days ...
> > 
> Yep, feels inconsistent...
> 
> best,
> ~~~
> ^[^    Jaromir
> 
> Sent from Squeak Inbox Talk
> 
> On 2022-01-12T14:27:42+01:00, marcel.taeumel at hpi.de wrote:
> 
> > Hi Jaromir --
> > 
> > > I've noticed you added almost half of them to the Extras menu
> > 
> > When we introduced UI themes in Squeak 5.1, I noticed several preferences that are tightly coupled to such themes. It felt important enough to be able the change theme through the "Extras" menu ... maybe along with those coupled other UI-related preferences. Now, the "scale factor" went into the extra's menu, too.
> > 
> > Those interaction-related preferences are not in the "Extras" menu but in the wizard. It was based on a gut feeling.
> > 
> > > Tempted to ask why not all ;)
> > 
> > Because those three different "tools" around preferences have different use cases:
> > 
> > - Apps > "Preference Wizard" ... is for the first contact and for avoiding too exhausting discussions about default preferences ...
> > - Extras > "Themes & Colors" / "Scale Factor" ... is for occasional demos or display switching
> > - Tools > "Preferences" ... is for everything (else)
> > 
> > Well .. World > Appearance is almost obsolete these days ...
> > 
> > Best,
> > Marcel
> > Am 12.01.2022 14:19:55 schrieb mail at jaromir.net <mail at jaromir.net>:
> > Hi Marcel,
> > Yes, the "accident" argument crossed my mind too; sorry for the noise :) When I try the various preferences I return to the Wizard quite often; I've noticed you added almost half of them to the Extras menu - that's perfect, such a convenient access! Tempted to ask why not all ;)
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > best,
> > ~~~
> > ^[^ Jaromir
> > 
> > Sent from Squeak Inbox Talk
> > 
> > On 2022-01-12T14:10:39+01:00, marcel.taeumel at hpi.de wrote:
> > 
> > > Hi Jaromir --
> > >
> > > > would it be difficult/reasonable to transform the button to Done instead of just greying out?
> > >
> > > The user can finish the configuration on either page. It is not necessary to click through all pages. Maybe one just wants to set the UI theme and be done with it. Also, I don't want the user to click on "Done" by accident, so I placed it in the lower right corner, which I think is common in Western GUI dialogs. The wizard is mainly for the initial Squeak experience where the world is not full screen but in a window. Sorry for any inconveniences on your wide-screen monitor with Squeak being in full-screen mode. ... I don't think the issues you described warrant the changes you suggested. :-/
> > >
> > > And I really want the users to try out the settings in the live windows. So, I want the user to have to look across those windows to find the "Done" button. :-D The other preferences browser might be more stream-lined for your purposes.
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Marcel
> > > Am 12.01.2022 13:56:36 schrieb mail at jaromir.net :
> > > Hi Marcel,
> > >
> > > just an idea: in the Wizard you proceed back and forth via the Next and Previous buttons; when you get to the last (6th) the Next button greys out to indicate the end; on an ultra wide screen the Done button is all the way across to the right, sort of out of sight; would it be difficult/reasonable to transform the button to Done instead of just greying out? (While keeping Done as is for a fast way out, indeed)
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > best,
> > > ~~~
> > > ^[^ Jaromir
> > >
> > > Sent from Squeak Inbox Talk
> > >
> > > On 2021-12-27T20:00:12+01:00, mail at jaromir.net wrote:
> > >
> > > > > > (2) what is CMD-s supposed to do in the Transcript window?
> > > > > I don't think I've ever in 40 years thought to try saving the Transcript. I would suggest it should do nothing
> > > > >
> > > > That's perfectly fine with me. Way better than dispappear everything :D Thanks
> > > > ...Once I had some commented results in Transcript I wanted to copy and hit CMD-s by mistake... can't forget the shock :)
> > > >
> > > > ~~~
> > > > ^[^ Jaromir
> > > >
> > > > Sent from Squeak Inbox Talk
> > > >
> > > > On 2021-12-27T10:57:35-08:00, tim at rowledge.org wrote:
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > On 2021-12-26, at 11:41 PM, mail at jaromir.net wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > (2) what is CMD-s supposed to do in the Transcript window?
> > > > > I don't think I've ever in 40 years thought to try saving the Transcript. I would suggest it should do nothing
> > > > >
> > > > > tim
> > > > > --
> > > > > tim Rowledge; tim at rowledge.org; http://www.rowledge.org/tim
> > > > > Useful Latin Phrases:- Non curo. Si metrum non habet, non est poema = I don't care. If it doesn't rhyme, it isn't a poem.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
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