I often talk about choosing software but rarely about what actually makes good software.
Most people don’t jump out of bed thinking “I can’t wait to use Word today” or “I’m excited to open Photoshop this morning”. They might want to write a letter, or design a new poster, but they want to do the thing, then get on with life. Software is the means, not the end.
And that’s software’s whole job: help you do the thing and get out of the way.
Despite that, because a product owner has a KPI or the company now has a focus on “engagement”, they can’t resist making their product the star of the show:
- “What’s new” popups that ambush you before you can do anything.
- A chatbot interrupting your flow and begging to help you with a task you didn’t ask for.
- A redesign moving everything around for reasons no one can explain.
- Constant reminders to turn on a feature you’ve already declined.
- The list goes on…
Every time software shouts “notice me!” you look at the tool, not the work. That’s a failure.
Good software respects your attention. Good software is software you barely remember using.
Colin