The Wonsys Blog

If we look behind in computer history we can see people in dark rooms working with big and sophisticated appliances that processed complicated data. By long, computers and information technology in general were felt as a strange, difficult, nonsense science like physics or chemistry.
In those years, a great revolution was coming: computers had to become simpler. So while physics and chemistry still are always the same, the computer industry started a process to simplify itself trying to be easy to use for anyone.

Here at Wonsys we develop Web applications, and while developing this kind of products, we fight daily to squash anything that could make our software difficult to use. We believe the user should always find a simple and intuitive way to do what she need to do.
Still, many times we have to decide between easiness and functionalities.

Simplicity in Web application isn’t just a plus, it’s one of the most important things — if not THE most important thing –, and many Web applications have a great potential but are completely unusable.
Most of the time, you’ll have to realize that keeping a feature out of your app is probably the best feature you can add to your app.
Using today’s technologies developers have an incredible amount of possibilities: we can develop whatever we want with tons and tons of great features, but we must first make sure we implement simplicity. Adding a feature for the sake of being on the bleeding edge can only be bad for your app. Sure you’ll get some publicity for using technology X, but then you’ll be standing with a fistful of bloat.

If you can do something, it doesn’t mean you have to.

While you are sketching or developing anything, remember of this important topic, because even though it won’t ensure your success, it will certainly be one step towards that direction.

Simplicity doesn’t mean you should keep all the features out, but that every single feature should be carefully taken into consideration before being implemented.

What’s your take on simplicity? how do you try to avoid to end up with bloated software?
Let us know!

This post was written by Simone D. 1 year, 5 months ago on March 31st, 2007 evening time.