Livecode 10dp6 and web fonts

Derek Bump derek-lc-list at speedbump.io
Wed Sep 27 12:28:19 EDT 2023


Hi Paul,

In the past, I aimed to align my application UI closely with the host 
OS, believing that a consistent UI ensures broad accessibility. However, 
over time, I've come to see that while UI continuity is beneficial, it 
isn't the ultimate solution.

This realization hit home when I managed a team for a large enterprise 
client. We had programs that mimicked the host OS UI while others 
sported a completely unique UI. To my surprise, the consistency of the 
UI mattered little to my team—most only used technology to fulfill their 
core tasks. The outdated screen snapshots and hand-annotations in the 
department's process documentation underscored this point.

The design nuances, like font choices, weren't as problematic as a 
complete UI overhaul. An entire UI revamp meant new documentation and 
snapshots, consuming a significant chunk of my time and increasing my 
managerial stress. While one could argue these issues stem from a lack 
of training or poor work environment, the reality is such teams exist, 
and they will be your users and sources of feedback.

Now, my focus is on ensuring the UI fits the program's purpose rather 
than matching the host OS. Continuity matters, but it isn't paramount. I 
tread cautiously with UI changes, avoiding unnecessary complexity. 
Gathering feedback early and consistently is key. If considering major 
UI shifts, I seek feedback upfront.

Considering the topic, I highly recommend Bret Victor's "Inventing on 
Principle" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUv66718DII) I believe 
LiveCode resonates with Bret's ideas, and I've been integrating his 
concepts into my work. Well worth the engaging 54 minute presentation.

Hope this provides some insight,

Derek Bump


On 9/27/23 09:49, Paul Dupuis via use-livecode wrote:
> (A) Do you try to make your interfaces across platforms the SAME (as 
> much as possible)?
>
> OR
>
> (B) Do you TAILOR each interface for the specific platform (as much as 
> possible)?
>
> And optionally, an opened ended question: Does your answer depend of 
> what platforms you are deploying for?



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