[drupal-devel] two minor usability issues, introduced recently

[Bèr Kessels]

On Monday 26 September 2005 23:30, neil at civicspacelabs.org wrote:
> I'd avoid adding rules. Comitted patches can always be refactored for UI
> later. This happens with code too. I think the best thing would be some
> way of making UI changes more findable for review. I think this would
> allow for time UI people give to Drupal more well-spent.

the big problem with this is that refactoring a UI requires coding too. Most 
Usability experts care not/cannot/will not code. 
Thus usabiltity 'feature' request will stick as issues in the queue forever. 
They will because they do already. Somehow developers do not pick up these 
features from the queue, when they do not have a patch. (and I know why....)

So if we want to cater these experts we need to help and include them in our 
process. Not bolt some usability review on top. And optionally (never) fix 
issues afterwards. Cateering them would mean: screenshots, example or test 
sites, etc. I found that when a screenshot is submitted the UI oftne comes 
out much nicer then when it was not. Because -i assume- usability reviewers 
find it far too much hassle to maintain local devel sites where they can 
apply patches. 

Usability, code style(ity), security, feasability, flexibility are all of 
equal importance in Drupal. That is quite unique, but a very good thing. 
Developers often care about only a few of these -itys. Making it go trough 
more people ensures that most of the itys are touched and reviewed. And to 
allow different people to look at this in differen ways we need to cater 
these.


Ber