Thread: This had me literally rofling once I got the meaning(s)!

  1. #1
    [](){}(); manasij7479's Avatar
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    This had me literally rofling once I got the meaning(s)!

    Quote Originally Posted by Master Foo
    Master Foo Discourses on the Graphical User Interface

    One evening, Master Foo and Nubi attended a gathering of programmers who had met to learn from each other. One of the programmers asked Nubi to what school he and his master belonged. Upon being told they were followers of the Great Way of Unix, the programmer grew scornful.
    “The command-line tools of Unix are crude and backward”, he scoffed. “Modern, properly designed operating systems do everything through a graphical user interface”.
    Master Foo said nothing, but pointed at the moon. A nearby dog began to bark at the master's hand.
    “I don't understand you!” said the programmer.
    Master Foo remained silent, and pointed at an image of the Buddha. Then he pointed at a window.
    “What are you trying to tell me?” asked the programmer.
    Master Foo pointed at the programmer's head. Then he pointed at a rock.
    “Why can't you make yourself clear?” demanded the programmer.
    Master Foo frowned thoughtfully, tapped the the programmer twice on the nose, and dropped him in a nearby trashcan.
    As the programmer was attempting to extricate himself from the garbage, the dog wandered over and piddled on him.
    At that moment, the programmer achieved enlightenment.
    Master Foo Discourses on the Graphical User Interface

    Wishing everyone a Happy New Year ...may we all hear yet another apocalypse prediction.
    Last edited by manasij7479; 12-31-2011 at 11:31 AM.

  2. #2
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
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    And hey it comes from the appendix of what looks like a great and freely available book. This is two I have to thank you for...
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

  3. #3
    [](){}(); manasij7479's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MK27 View Post
    And hey it comes from the appendix of what looks like a great and freely available book. This is two I have to thank you for...
    Yes.. Almost everything I know about 'designing' comes from it.
    (But it also contains a lot of trivia....which many wouldn't consider good)

  4. #4
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
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    Haha, that's pretty good

  5. #5
    Algorithm Dissector iMalc's Avatar
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    So that's some kind of ridiculous plug as to why typing commands is better than clicking on things. That analogy is so crude and backwards.
    My homepage
    Advice: Take only as directed - If symptoms persist, please see your debugger

    Linus Torvalds: "But it clearly is the only right way. The fact that everybody else does it some other way only means that they are wrong"

  6. #6
    [](){}(); manasij7479's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by iMalc View Post
    So that's some kind of ridiculous plug as to why typing commands is better than clicking on things. That analogy is so crude and backwards.
    The point was that there is no "One Ring" for interfaces.
    Clicking is suitable for many things, but that does not mean the other way is bad...and vice versa.

  7. #7
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    I have always liked interfaces that allowed you to keep your hands right on the keyboard, as much as possible. Moving your hands over to the mouse frequently, and unnecessarily, is just a bad design, imo.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Adak View Post
    I have always liked interfaces that allowed you to keep your hands right on the keyboard, as much as possible. Moving your hands over to the mouse frequently, and unnecessarily, is just a bad design, imo.
    Well... unless they don't require you to keep your hands on the keyboard at all, that is...

    Think about how many programs out there can actually be run entirely by mouse...

  9. #9
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater
    Think about how many programs out there can actually be run entirely by mouse...
    Minesweeper!

    Okay, if you need to enter a name for the high score, I guess you could use an on-screen keyboard...
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    Minesweeper!

    Okay, if you need to enter a name for the high score, I guess you could use an on-screen keyboard...
    Most web browsers.
    Windows Explorer
    Windows Network
    uTorrent
    Calculator


    it's a long list....

  11. #11
    C++ Witch laserlight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater
    it's a long list....
    With the exception of a graphical calculator, which is a kind of on-screen keypad in its own right, I think we need to "cheat" with an on-screen keyboard to use most of them properly.

    I've heard that some graphical web browsers can be used pretty well without the mouse, but frankly it sounds like torture to me.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bjarne Stroustrup (2000-10-14)
    I get maybe two dozen requests for help with some sort of programming or design problem every day. Most have more sense than to send me hundreds of lines of code. If they do, I ask them to find the smallest example that exhibits the problem and send me that. Mostly, they then find the error themselves. "Finding the smallest program that demonstrates the error" is a powerful debugging tool.
    Look up a C++ Reference and learn How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

  12. #12
    spurious conceit MK27's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by laserlight View Post
    I've heard that some graphical web browsers can be used pretty well without the mouse, but frankly it sounds like torture to me.
    Oh come one, you just need to use the wheel

    Anyone that thinks the mouse is a precision instrument should go sketch a scene in paintshop quick.

    Quote Originally Posted by CommonTater View Post
    Windows Explorer
    Anyone that thinks point and click file browsers are evolutionary is probably also still trying to unload that Florida swampland they've owned since the 1970's. "Drag n' drop" is great -- for children under 10 who have trouble finding F6 or Ctrl. Just because Pop Tarts are a successful product does not make them good food. They seem "convenient" and "easier", until you consider how deficient the end result is. And the fact that toast wasn't actually such a huge chore to start with, if you're an adult.

    Corporations are savvy and exploit certain tenancies in the mass market, that's all. The "lowest common denominator" really is just that. No big secret.
    Last edited by MK27; 01-05-2012 at 03:41 AM.
    C programming resources:
    GNU C Function and Macro Index -- glibc reference manual
    The C Book -- nice online learner guide
    Current ISO draft standard
    CCAN -- new CPAN like open source library repository
    3 (different) GNU debugger tutorials: #1 -- #2 -- #3
    cpwiki -- our wiki on sourceforge

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    Quote Originally Posted by MK27 View Post
    Anyone that thinks point and click file browsers are evolutionary is probably also still trying to unload that Florida swampland they've owned since the 1970's.
    I can't figure out if you're an anachronist or an elitist ... but once again, your testicles will NOT fall off just because you indulge in a bit of convenience.

    Oh, BTW... I like pop tarts, too.

  14. #14
    Officially An Architect brewbuck's Avatar
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    I don't know why people say Windows has no command line. I use it all the time...

    Last night for no reason at all I turned on Windows Speech Recognition and used the computer entirely by voice for about 30 minutes. Your debates on GUI vs command line have NOTHING on that!
    Code:
    //try
    //{
    	if (a) do { f( b); } while(1);
    	else   do { f(!b); } while(1);
    //}

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    Devil's Advocate SlyMaelstrom's Avatar
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    Like any good Managing Director knows, the best user interface is a good Executive Assistant.
    Sent from my iPadŽ

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