He made a direct link between an obscure option in a configuration file and it being an obscure setting in a GUI or WebUI. That happens sometimes, certainly, but it's not a 1-to-1 mapping. In other words, it doesn't HAVE to be the case.
Regardless, to me, an interface like cPanel has several advantages, one of which is that it greatly reduces the typo-caused calamity/explosions that we all know and love. "Reduces." I know there are word-hawks here. "Reduces."
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nolug@stoney.kellynet.org [mailto:owner-nolug@stoney.kellynet.org] On Behalf Of Mark A. Hershberger
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 11:30 AM
To: nolug@nolug.org
Subject: [Nolug] Re: cPanel?
Dustin Puryear <dpuryear@puryear-it.com> writes:
>> Devil's Advocacy: if it's an obscure option in a config file, wouldn't
>> it be an obscure option hidden deep in some menu structure?
> Nope.
Why not? I've never seen a UI so well designed that every possible
action was easily and quickly discoverable by a first time user.
UIs have to make trade-offs. In the case of CPanel, some things that
the CLI allows you to do things that are simply impossible in CPanel.
And you would never know that if your only exposure is via CPanel.
Someone asks for rarely-used scenario “X” and you'll say “not possible,
but try Y which is probably what you want anyway”.
Meanwhile, the person who is used to CLI access might say “Hrm… let me
see what I can do.”
Flexibility comes at a cost to usability. There is a huge mental tax
that people pay to get ultimate flexibility. It is fine to say “I don't
want to pay it.” It is something I've learned to say as I've gotten
older. This doesn't mean I am dumber or lazier, it just means I have
found other priorities.
Mark.
--
http://hexmode.com/
War begins by calling for the annihilation of the Other,
but ends ultimately in self-annihilation.
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Received on 05/23/11
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