Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP 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 ...