From: marc@tanda.isis.org (Marc Thibault)
Reply-To: marc@tanda.isis.org
Newsgroups: comp.human-factors
Subject: Re: GUIs Considered Harmful
Date: Tue, 01 Sep 92 11:56:38 
Distribution: na
Organization: Thibault & Friends

In article <1992Aug30.155725.3241@kilowatt.uucp> 
(Kilowatt admin) writes: 
       ...
> 	An endorsment for X windows: Ever notice how unlike MS-Windows it is?
> It lets you actually TYPE things... You can run an X application from an xterm
> window... MS-Windows does not allow you to start a Windows app from the MSDOS
> CLI - is this stupid or what? Does Windows NT change this? Or is the CLI 
> completely gone? I have to use the mouse just to run a Windows app! How yucky.

        Arthur has put his finger on the problem right here. Somebody
        said the Mac makes doing simple things simple and complex
        things impossible. This is also true of Windows because
        neither has a CLI to let you do things The System Designers
        hadn't thought of and neither lets you go through a sequence
        of processes without point-click-drag micromanagement of the
        whole sequence in real time. Both are also missing the nice
        filters and utilities that make life so convenient (want to
        sort an ASCII file? -- all you have to do is import it into
        your $500 gui spreadsheet or $750 database app).

        Where is it written that GUI==Icons==Mouse? The GUI provides a
        wonderful presentation environment, and a mouse is marvellous
        for doing graphic things and document formatting and layout.
        But why give up the power and flexibility of a CLI just to
        maintain the purity of an interface designed to introduce
        computers to pre-literate children (where do you think the
        'small' in smalltalk came from)?

        There is some light on the horizon. Alternate managers (eg,
        hDC Power Launcher) and shareware CLI's are starting to pop
        up. I've been using a fairly good one for windows (Eschalon
        Development's WinCLI) that will launch dos and win apps,
        supports aliases and multiple commands per line. What I
        haven't yet seen is a good Windows CLI with script file
        capability. ksh, rexx or 4dos would be nice.

> I agree, the average person can get a LOT done with OOP, but that's the
> average person. From what I've seen and read, I'd rather hack C code and
> use less resources in the mean time.

        The basic principles of OOP have been around for decades. They
        got temporarily trampled in the rush to make Structured
        Programming the one true religion. It's nice to see them
        widely acknowledged, but we can do without yet another one
        true religion.


> accuracy? I'm a mediocre typist in that area, but I do READ WHAT I'VE TYPED
> BEFORE HITTING THE ALMIGHTY ENTER KEY. By looking at some of the posts here
> on the net, do you ever get the idea that the author has not read what he's
> typed before sending it out? Don't flame me - please? I've got this thing
> about the ENGLIGH language, I like it the way it is.

        We're a dying breed, Arthur. Hang in there.

---
 Marc Thibault        |                              |  Any Warming,
 marc@tanda.isis.org  |  Oxford Mills, Ontario       |  Global or otherwise,
 CIS:71441,2226       |     Canada                   |   appreciated.

Newsgroups: comp.human-factors