[asterisk-users] Why does everyone seem to dislike *now?

[SIP]

Jim Canfield wrote:
> SIP wrote:
>   
>> Not at all relevant to your query, but I still use the mysql CLI for any 
>> mysql task... and while most OSs have nice, functional tools to add 
>> users (command-line tools), there are SOME (*cough* Irix *cough*) where 
>> there are no CLI tools and VI is your only option (especially if you're 
>> remotely logged in via a term window and have no X).
>>
>> GUIs have their place. But it's often a trade-off between abstracting 
>> the details to make things user-friendly and hiding the power that is 
>> available via the CLI from someone who knows it. If you're comfortable 
>> with the CLI, why learn another tool? If you're NOT comfortable with the 
>> CLI, by all means use a GUI, but don't expect people who never use it to 
>> be of much help when you ask questions.
>>   
>>     
> Thanks for the response. I agree there is a trade-off between 
> abstracting details and making things user friendly. That said, I also 
> believe there are huge barriers to entry when one becomes CLI 
> only....I'm speaking of newcomers. A proper GUI will take the CLI into 
> account and CLI will remain effective. This is true for most successful 
> linux projects. I was able to create a working system *now and a CLI 
> book (TFOT) w/o any real issues. Granted I did render much of the "neat 
> stuff" useless. My real concern was the immediate '/ignore' for asking 
> about an issue with the *now ditro that actually had nothing to do with 
> the GUI itself. Truth be told, most of my time today was in the CLI 
> console and the file editor...both are very nice IMHO. I see no reason 
> to create a "second class" of community citizens.
>
> Thanks again,
>
>   
That, I'm afraid, is the stuff of religion: DistroX vs. DistroY; GUI vs. 
CLI; Power User vs. Noob; etc. It shouldn't be, but the somewhat 
irrevocable principle of cognitive dissonance says otherwise.

I like well-designed GUIs.  However, far too often, open-source projects 
are not ripe with good UI designers -- people who understand the natural 
flow of data and how to manage it in such a way to make the experience 
pleasant and easy. That, and good graphic designers.  All too often, the 
coders seem to rely on any ol' UI to get by because, to them, it's all 
about the functionality and couching that in a display. That's well and 
good, but it's not enough. Not nearly. Graphics is 1 part science, 4 
parts art. UI is 4 parts science, one part art. It's a rare designer who 
can do both well, and it's a VERY rare coder who can do EITHER well. But 
try they do... and what comes from it is often a half-assed job that 
doesn't satisfy ANYone. Power users find it clunky and not powerful 
enough. Noobs find it clunky, unintuitive, and hard to understand. And 
then the wars begin.

The AsteriskNow gui is better than many I've seen, but it still lacks 
some basics of program flow and that last 30% of finesse that would make 
it REALLY appealing.

However, for basic getting to and fro in a foreign environment, it'll 
work in a pinch.

N.