Messages in this thread | | | Date | Sat, 2 Mar 2002 18:31:03 -0500 | Subject | Re: Network Security hole (was -> Re: arp bug ) | From | Andrew Pimlott <> |
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On Sat, Mar 02, 2002 at 12:31:48PM -0800, erich@uruk.org wrote: > My general contention is that the system should, by default, behave as > non-experts would expect, but this might be a point where we can't > agree. > > It is, unfortunately, the cardinal rule when designing any usable > interfaces. I reference Donald Norman's "The Design of Everyday > Things". But I digress.
I must agree with Alan. Low level technical interfaces should behave according to standards, and should follow a consistent logic understood by experts in the field (even if it is difficult for the beginner). If people try to push "usability" (and I'm as much a fan of that book as you) onto kernel interfaces, we'll wade into a swamp and never get out.
Such interfaces need not be exposed to ordinary users. Indeed, by keeping the low-level layer simple and orthogonal, it becomes easier to build multiple user-facing layers (for different purposes, or for comparison at the same purpose). I think this principle is much more powerful than the one you advance.
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