GUI patterns

Jeff Atwood

16 Aug 2004 — 1 min read — Comments

With all this talk of high-falutin’ coding design patterns, I’m surprised we haven’t seen more sites that cover GUI design patterns, like welie.com*. What a great site!

Consider the iPod: it’s a 2.5″ hard drive, strapped to a battery and a LCD, that plays MP3 files. Dozens of other taiwanese manufacturers make products exactly like this, but Apple is the only company making a fortune at it, and inspiring fanatical product loyalty. Why? It has the most usable interface.

The mechanical things (coding patterns) are actually quite easy. It’s the soft GUI stuff that is difficult, and that’s ultimately what makes your product sexy, desirable – and a success. We may think coding patterns are sexy, but they’re invisible to users.

*via HMK’s very cool blog.

Recent Posts

map of the United States via rgmii.org showing all 3,143 counties by rural (gold) / metro (grey) and population

Launching The Rural Guaranteed Minimum Income Initiative

It's been a year since I invited Americans to join us in a pledge to Share the American Dream: 1. Support organizations you feel are effectively helping those most in need across America right now. 2. Within the next five years, also contribute public dedications of time or

The Road Not Taken is Guaranteed Minimum Income

The dream is incomplete until we share it with our fellow Americans.

Let's Talk About The American Dream

A few months ago I wrote about what it means to stay gold — to hold on to the best parts of ourselves, our communities, and the American Dream itself. But staying gold isn’t passive. It takes work. It takes action. It takes hard conversations that ask us to confront

Stay Gold, America

We are at an unprecedented point in American history, and I'm concerned we may lose sight of the American Dream.

I’m feeling unlucky... 🎲 See All Posts