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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!hao!cires!nbires!ut-ngp!werner
From: werner@ut-ngp.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Unix INHUMAN FACTORS - (not directly, but inspired by it)
Message-ID: <418@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 9-Jul-83 03:19:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: ut-ngp.418
Posted: Sat Jul  9 03:19:52 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jul-83 19:56:52 EDT
Lines: 43


	True, not all software on a UN*X system is to be thought
	of as synonimous with UN*X. However, no matter how much
	one should respect (if not admire) the UN*X concept and
	environment, it's shortcomings are reflected in the soft-
	ware that is written by UN*X hackers, mainly, that it is
	not user-friendly.  By that, I do not mean to indicate
	that it is difficult to do relatively non-trivial things,
	no, it's just so damn difficult to figure out what command
	(or piped commands) in combination with what options will
	achieve some goal.  


	Yes,  I know, UN*X was written for small systems where
	space was at a premium, (to be ?) used by hackers who
	need no manuals or instructions but who are able to
	"smell" the right option or to invent a hack "on the fly"
	when they want something to happen but can't remember the
	right option - or so the story goes ...

	---but now that the applause has died down, why not
	make it a little more user-friendly?  What's wrong
	with a little hand-holding of the user?  Command-
	and file-completion?  Confirmation requests for
	"dangerous" commands with some way of finding out what the
	actual danger is?  

	--- or how about some more "helpful" facility than the
	"man"-command.  Until we all have large bit-mapped screens
	and high-speed lines, spitting manual pages at users simply
	cannot be accepted at this day and age.  I thought IBM's 
	JCL was alone in the class of tools which make it hard for
	the user to acquire expertice.  So, Mr. UN*X, if you are out
	there and listening, how about some nice online tree-structured
	help-system.  This could be an ideal testing-ground also,
	for an "expert-system", for those working in that area.

	On the other hand, now that Ma Bell wants to become IBM's
	younger sister, we can wait for a commercial product, but
	given that the UN*X manuals cost $50 already, locally,
	I am not looking forward to see their price-list.

		...  just wanting to see a good thing get even better ...