Re: User Experience Engineering

[Mats Bengtsson]

I'm afraid that the biggest obstacle to get started with
LilyPond is not the installation but learning to master the
input syntax and semantics. Unfortunately, there are still
many aspects of input syntax and semantics that reflect
the way the program works internally, which may be far
from intuitive if you think in terms of music typesetting
rather than computer science.
Certainly, installation issues are important and it's well-
known that most program packages have far more bugs
in the installation procedures than in the main programs,
but in the case of LilyPond, I think you miss the point, in
terms of major usability thresholds, if you focus too much
on installation issues. Note also that the Windows installers
didn't exist half a year ago, whereas the program has existed
for almost 10 years, so I expect major improvements in the
coming months.

  /Mats

Linda Seltzer wrote:

> User Experience engineering does not require a GUI or an abandonment of the
> programming and typesetting approach.  It does not require the abandonment
> of providing detailed features.  What it requires is that the language
> and documentation are clear and that functionality doesn't require time-
> consuming work arounds.  For example, if one is running on a Windows
> environment, one should not have to install another editor and worry about
> getting that to work, and the outputs should be easily usable and readable
> by other programs without having to install other kinds of programs and
> accessories.  It means that everything is made simple and clear for the
> user.  There are users, unlike myself, who have never done any
> programming.  Simplicity and clarity are as important as providing desired
> features.  I am saying this as someone whose software has been
> incorporated into the Sprint network operations system, the AT&T network,
> the Silicon Graphics workstations, the Coast Guard communications system
> and other products.  I have seen development projects sink and swim, and I
> am merely discussing what will "swim" if it is to become highly profitable
> at some point.  If I were saying this at a profit-oriented company no one
> would disagree, let alone generate a flame war.  I have seen multi-million
> projects go down the drain because the management didn't pay attention to
> issues such as marketing or the user experience.
>
>
>
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