Linux in a Bit's Stuff

Posted 2025-05-05

The 8 Human Interface Guideline Guidelines

  1. Accommodate end users who are unfamiliar with your conventions.
    • Old layout - not necessarily intuitive for new users.

      A screenshot of the old Arduino IDE, a precarious number of menus to select a board.

    • New layout - accommodates both old and new users.

      A screenshot of the new Arduino IDE, an option is directly available with one click without adding much clutter.

  2. Similar functions should be in consistent locations across applications.

    A screenshot of multiple KDE applications with very similar menubars.

  3. Respect end users; do not needlessly frustrate their endeavours.

    An application's pinned settings window prevents easy preview of changes:

  4. Attempt to make specialized customization options unnecessary.

    A language selection dialog for a color chooser, a very simple application that shouldn't require one.

  5. Do not force convergence between disparate platforms.

    An image displaying a phone UI and a desktop UI; they are very different platfroms.

  6. Allow for complexity when necessary, discourage it otherwise.
    • An office suite; complexity may be necessary.

      A screenshot of the OnlyOffice ribbon toolbar. It is complex because there are a lot of functions.

    • A simple utility; avoiding complexity improves the user experience.

      A screenshot of the Popsicle USB image flasher. It avoids complexity to make the user experience better.

  7. Promote the inclusion of accessibility features wherever possible.

    A screenshot of OnlyOffice with the accessibility keyboard shortcuts activated using the 'Alt' key.

  8. Encourage aesthetically pleasing and efficient design.

    Despite being fairly complex, Blender manages to look quite nice through well-designed iconography, shading, and visual separation.

    A screenshot of the default Blender view.