After reading The inmates are running the asylum by Alan Cooper and encountering the phrase “dancing bearware” that refers to software that looks good but is essentially pointless and/or annoying, this will be my list of things that suck about software and interfaces. Rather than just noting the flaw, a proposed solution is given.

Loading bars
Loading progress bars that get to the top, then start again. Absolutely pointless. The solution is to make the loading bar represent the percentage of progress of the task that I have initiated. Simple!

Pointless alerts
For example, when I try and save in Dreamweaver and it is already trying to save something (using its rubbish, slow FTP routine), it tells me that it is “currently interacting with a server”, and it can’t save the new file. Solution: Just queue the file and leave me alone, stupid software.

Autosaving
This should not be optional, nor should it overwrite my current file. I want my software to save versions of my file all the time, in the background, so I never lose anything. Don’t confuse me, just do it and let me choose if you crash. WordPress can do it, and that is free and online. I expect better from local apps that I pay money for.

Alert boxes that appear away from the cursor
For example, when a box appears to the left, then when I click an option another box appears to the far right of the screen. Clicks should flow, without me having to move my cursor all over the screen. Simple testing will avoid this situation. You hear me, software developers? Testing. With real people!