Unnecessary Features

We seem to have a problem in our society with extras. Fast food chains offer you a 'meal' and in a particular size. The sizes change. Cars on the lot come with 'extras', but they can't seem to find the basic car at anyone's lot. Software improvements contain items we just don't need.

We often hear that in order to be successful in the workplace, we need to accept that change is a part of it. And so the 40 hour work week earned on the sweat and blood of unions is fast disappearing. But in software, anyway, some of that extra work and programming is for extra features that the customers never said they wanted and rarely use. Features are determined by a cost benefit analysis, rather than determining whether new features are required at all.

Far from making the product more appealing, customers often feel forced to buy the only version available. But sometimes, there is blowback. Microsoft's Vista's is a case in point. Sometimes, the customer doesn't buy. Or the customer complains. Or Open Source becomes popular.

In fact, I sometimes think that features should face a battle such as we're seeing in the Democratic primaries before they are allowed in to a piece of software. Now you may think that Open Source would be the answer to that, but Open Source is more like, if you want it, you can have it (think Wendy's burgers), rather than a collective vote.

So, what's the answer? Rather than a constant march for new features, perhaps a new version that removes bugs from the existing version -- only. Just make it better. Just make it higher quality. What do you think?