When building software we sometimes wish we had a crystal ball and could anticipate what the user would like to, so that our tool could fit her like a glove. Just think about it. She goes "oh I wish I could see these numbers in a bar chart" just to realise a few milliseconds later a button that says "see this as a bar chart".
This is never going to work.
Why? Because it unleashes a domino effect resulting in bloat and maladaptation.
The tools we build live in the world, side by side with other tools in a diversity of toolsets that people use to get their jobs done. If after listening to a few users we go and add a feature, we may break other possible uses by constraining too much or by competing with the basic flows that derive 80% of the value of the tool.
Our tools need to be minimal. Not barren, minimal in the sense that they fit in with a rich variety of uses by not imposing too much on how they are meant to be used. By focusing on the primary things where 80% of the value is.
They can also be good neighbours this way. Remember our user? What if she can just copy the numbers and paste them in a spreadsheet, where she can get her bar chart and whatever other thing she wants to do, while our tool stays focused on whatever main problems we came in to help with?
This is never going to work.
Why? Because it unleashes a domino effect resulting in bloat and maladaptation.
The tools we build live in the world, side by side with other tools in a diversity of toolsets that people use to get their jobs done. If after listening to a few users we go and add a feature, we may break other possible uses by constraining too much or by competing with the basic flows that derive 80% of the value of the tool.
Our tools need to be minimal. Not barren, minimal in the sense that they fit in with a rich variety of uses by not imposing too much on how they are meant to be used. By focusing on the primary things where 80% of the value is.
They can also be good neighbours this way. Remember our user? What if she can just copy the numbers and paste them in a spreadsheet, where she can get her bar chart and whatever other thing she wants to do, while our tool stays focused on whatever main problems we came in to help with?