Just as in software projects, there is scope creep, so too in applications themselves. And I think that's not useful. Imagine, if you will, back to the early days of Microsoft Word. What was it meant to be? A piece of software to make it easier to create documents. Even more finely, it was replacing the typewriter. What does the typewriter have on it - lowercase, caps, space bar. We create paragraphs, and bullet points. We may change the font.
So, if Word did that successfully, why are there so many versions of Word? Some of it, certainly, is keeping up with Operating Systems, which are refining how we store files, and taking advantage of better hardware. But also - you can add art, it comes with default styles, you can create web pages. As each new version comes along, the menu changes, things move from tab to tab. There are smart keys. And I have to learn a new program. Also, it now links into something called "Microsoft Office". And Microsoft Office, the product, has its own rules, which are imposed on Word. Some of them are fine, but some don't make sense for a document processor.
This trend towards packaged software is especially true for software development, but everyday apps as well. If one more store asks me if I want cash back, to donate to some cause, and any number of another set of questions before I can complete my purchase... well, I guess I'll just carry on, because what else to do?
What these extras do is stop the flow of your activity. As a reminder, we don't HAVE to use software. It is a tool meant to make our lives work better. And that should mean flowing along nicely.
So, when I recently purchased a piece of software specifically designed for a writer - and it is specifically designed for a writer - I was pretty excited. And I get to flow along.
So here's an appeal for Quality Software. It should serve one purpose.
