On Thu, Oct 29, 2009 at 04:14:05PM -0700, Jeremy Maitin-Shepard wrote:
> I think the issue is no so much what the default is but rather that
> people are unaware of exactly how the system works. In particular, you
> have to make sure not to pause too long if you make a mistake in typing
> before hitting backspace. I think it may require some adapting to learn
> how to use the system, and in particular it may be hard to adapt without
> actually understanding how it works, but overall following links
> automatically leads to a more efficient user interface, I think. For
> some people that prefer to type slower, simply setting the delay higher
> may work well (or disabling the auto following completely).
>
> I do generally agree that it is problematic when the effect of a key
> command is non-deterministic from the user's point of view, due to the
> possibility of some event occurring in between key strokes and causing
> the focus/context to change. The main case where this occurs in
> Conkeror is with the download prompt, but usually it is expected when it
> comes up, so it is not as much of an issue as it might otherwise be.
>
> I don't view the hints system as such a case, though; ruling out what
> the hints system does would essentially mean ruling out any "dynamic"
> (meaning time-dependent) behavior in user interfaces. I agree that
> there are some advantages to purely "static" user interfaces, but
> "dynamics" also can allow things to be more efficient, so in the end it
> is a tradeoff.
Hi Jeremy, long time no see!
I'm willing to make the case of the newbie here because it involves
perhaps the most important and commonly used subsystem for all Conkeror
users, regardless of their level of expertise, typing speed, browsing
style, or what they want out of the program. We all need to be able to
follow links with the keyboard.
It does speak to the heart of the matter to say that people are unaware
of exactly how the system works. Yet for such a basic and essential
subsystem, should we expect them to? I would propose that changing the
default to 0 would eliminate the need for the average user to learn
exactly how the system works in order to use it at a basic level, and also
to be confident in it as a dependable "black box". Apart from this
feature, operating the hinting system is fairly obvious to anyone with any
computer experience. We're all accustomed to hitting return at prompts in
all variety of other softwares, so there will be no surprise there for
anyone. For the person who wants no more out of Conkeror, they can just
use it.
Those of us who understand how it works don't mind putting a line in our
config and forgetting about it, but those that don't will have their lives
interrupted to "fix" it. Configuration should be about making the good
better, not about making the [perceived] bad tolerable.
Since hitting return at prompts is second nature to most of us, I don't
think I am out on a limb to call it the base case in this situation. But
just because something is the base case does not necessarily make it the
best default. Speaking in generic terms, "Feature X" might be a better
default, even though it has a steeper learning curve. To decide that
matter, I would frame it with the following question:
Can it be assumed that, despite a steeper learning curve, using
Feature X is in all reasonable cases the preferable and obvious goal
for the skilled user?
Well, you know my answer to that one. :) Based not only on my own
preference but also based on preferences of people I have talked to, such
as the one that got me thinking about this again. Auto-selection is
definitely more efficient for some people, but not everybody weighs the
trade-off the same.
Oh, I almost forgot a very important case. When a person is choosing a
link via link text instead of via numbers, they may not have seen the link
before starting the hints interaction, and they may need a chance to abort
with C-g if an undesired link comes up instead of what they expected.
"Typing blind" and seeing what comes up is also an efficiency gain, but
doing so does not play nice with a timed-autoselect, and that is the main
reason I turn off the feature in my own config.
--
John Foerch
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