[mythtv-users] RANT: MythTV has a *horrible* end user experience.

[Jay R. Ashworth]

On Mon, Feb 25, 2008 at 05:09:26PM -0800, Brad DerManouelian wrote:
> Well, if you're not going to learn to code, write a patch or file a  
> bug then you're just complaining to complain. Carry on.

A common sentiment, Brad, especially amongst programmers, but not one
that I agree with.  As has been noted, bugs, per se, aren't really
called for: in most cases, the bit of UI in question is functioning the
way some coder intended.

It's just that a user -- remember users?  They're the people user
interfaces are for? :-) -- doesn't like the way it works.

The number of books suggesting that you run UIs past real live users
who haven't ever written a line of code, or a bug ticket, in their lives
-- specifically; I've been thrown out of a couple of focus groups for
the cardinal sin of Knowing Too Much -- suggests to me that people who
don't code, patch or hang tickets may well still have something to
contribute.

I cant write all that well -- not at book length, certainly -- but that
didn't stop me from being useful on the Practical MythTV book; I did
what I was good at: tech review.

Cheers,
-- jra
-- 
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