Hi! I need to know about a few ways to make programs more user-friendly. Programmers only, please.?

Question

Just a few basic ways to make programs easier for people to use. Thanks!

Answer 1

Depends on what the program is doing but here are some ideas of what you should consider:
1. The ability to Undo
2. The ability to Go Back
3. Code that provides error checking, with well written error messages.
4. Well organized screens, not too busy or cluttered.
5. Mouse over tips.
6. An easy to use help section with an index and search function.
7. As few bugs as possible (Duh, so Test, Test, Test)
8. Tutorials

Answer 2

1. Start with a process flow. Put items in order that logically follow.
2. Don't fill the screen with 'stuff'. 10 items per page is plenty.
3. No dead ends. Don't ask for information that the user doesn't have and not allow them to move on.
4. Don't have required information that isn't required and vice versa.
5. Easy to read numbering and colors.
6. When in doubt, keep it as simple as possible. People are using the application to get something done, not to see how great a programmer you are.

Answer 3

As a programmer, I recommend not asking programmers how to make a program user friendly. As the users, or a usability expert.

Answer 4

- try to use the same terms for message buttons etc
- use the same color for the forms (font name,size and color in each form is the same)
- try to group each siilar field.
- design the window so the dimentions of controls are in one line.
- let the user move sequentially between controls using tab button (when pressing tab he/she moves to the control not to the last or previous one)
- don't make the window full of text box and buttons so the user didn't know where to start and where to end let the user walk sequentially in the form and try to use tab button if controls are too much for the form to handle and don't compress the controls in one page

and there is more but it is up to user to decide that this is a user friendly or not

Answer 5

You're asking the wrong people, if you want to makes something user-friendly ask potential users. common-sense'll do it in anyway

Answer 6

also,

1) No undecipherable/uncorrectable error messages.
2) No unexpected hangs or crashes or other unexpected behaviour

Answer 7

nice interface (aqua)
help function and tutorials
understandable word usage