Re: Contribution

[Pat Suwalski <pat suwalski net>]

Maxim Udushlivy wrote:
> Well, perhaps this dispute is in fact an "innovation vs tradition" 
> philosophical conflict :) If this is true, there must be a place for 
> both; and HIG's should exist, but only as recommendations, not as 
> constraints.

I think that's why they're called "guidelines" as opposed to "rules" or 
"requirements".

They are recommendations, and many apps break them when they have 
sufficient reason.

The idea is that if there is enough of a reason to break a guideline, 
then eventually that case should be added to the HIG document itself. 
So, if the latest fad is to put a "Trash my system" button right next to 
the "Save" button on the toolbar, and enough programs see it as useful, 
then it will be added at some point. :)

On the project I work on, Celestia, my goal is to have a UI that is 
consistent with the Windows UI, so that it's literally a port. To that 
end, some things follow the HIG (I have dialog buttons at the bottom of 
the window as opposed to the side), and other elements from the Windows 
UI are kept for consistency. I think I've reached a fairly decent balance.

--Pat