Re: [Audacity-devel] about adding options

[Alan H. <gi...@as...>]

On Tuesday 08 May 2007 03:50, Leland wrote:
> Everyone,
>
> I think Tino is right.  After reading Richard's list and everyone's
> comments, I realized that I opened up a big can of worms!  Audacity's
> biggest draw is it's simplicity and adding a heap of options like that
> would definitely be a detriment to the general user.
>
> So, I would like to leave the append thing in, but I will leave it as a
> "SHIFT" + click type of thing.  I'll add some keyboard combos to access the
> feature as well, but I think that's as far as it should go...for now.
>
> I believe there's plans to implement some sort of "mode" or "personality"
> system within Audacity in the future and this would be the perfect time to
> create an "advanced" mode that could cater to the professional crowd.
>
> Thoughts?
>
> Leland

I have been following this discussion with interest, ie how to increase 
functionality without hampering simplicity, so I will add my half-penny.

One approach I like is where applications have a preferences sub-menu 
'Advanced Options'; by default all of these check boxes are off, and the 
application operates in a clear straightforward way, but omitting certain 
functionality.  The user can then enable certain features but knows the 
consequence will probably be more screen clutter, or less intuitive 
behaviour, or activated hot-keys etc.  He/she can easily consult the manual/
help pages and find out what each one does, since they each have a clear 
option name, and can experiment.  All sorts of diverse functionality options 
can be put together here.

Since the user has to 'opt-in' to each one, the developer can reasonably 
assume a higher level of user awareness about each feature when selected.  
This could be used to add extra toolbar select menus as well as changing the 
way certain controls operate.

Regards  Alan