On quality software

Shitty software is everywhere. And by “shitty” software, I mean software that is either not well-suited for a task, poorly implemented (meaning CPU-intensive for no reason), and/or simply not well-designed.

As someone who really enjoys quality software and spends way too much time searching for a slightly better solution for each use case, this apparent lack of taste and bon goût from the general public kinda annoys me. It’s not like software is something we only use every other day: software is ubiquitous.

I’d understand if people were not sensitive to the quality of shopping center escalators: they don’t use them every single day, and most of them are good enough for 99% of the time. But everyday apps used on smartphones and computers?

Surprisingly, I don’t have specific programs or websites in mind as I’m writing these lines, but the following examples may succeed at illustrating my train of thought.

When I see people using something like Notion or Microsoft Word to draft a simple email or to write meeting notes, it makes me pause: these are not bad apps per se, but they are far from the first choice I would make to write anything on my computer. There are many superior choices available. Maybe it’s a matter of software literacy? Or perhaps just being aware that something better exists?

Yes, I read like a snob. I am indeed a snob, and this is not something that should surprise you at this point. After all, I just wrote a thousand words saying how much I like a freaking to-do app, and previous entries on this blog may have already disclosed me as a software snob a long time ago.

Not everyone appreciates software the same way, I get it. Some people will appreciate an app like Things, some people will be just fine with an app like Reminders, while some people — monsters — will use something like… **rolls eyes** …Microsoft OneNote.

Some people won’t notice any difference in terms of user interface between the Google Maps and Apple Maps apps. Some people will be satisfied either way, and both options are acceptable, I suppose, in the larger scheme of things.

Some people will use Google Chrome on their Mac for no reason. Some people will be fine with the web interface of Feedly. It’s OK, I’m not judging you. I’m basically judging myself.

It reminds me a lot of the cheese and crackers analogy, in which Apple’s product offer was deemed to be caviar in a world where users were fine with cheese and crackers. In this article, the analogy was improved by John Gruber:

What Apple understands and its critics did not (and still do not) is that many people, from all walks of life, simply appreciate nice things. They accuse Apple of pretension and elitism, but it’s they, the critics, who hold that the mass market for phones and tablets is overwhelmingly composed of tasteless, fickle shoppers who neither discern nor care about product quality. That Apple’s lead in these categories is simply because they were first out of the gate in them, not because their products are so good. […]

Apple is not selling caviar against cheese and crackers. They’re selling better-tasting cheese and crackers.

This analogy is so good that I keep talking about it to this day, as it still defines 90% of what Apple does, even if some of its own software is getting a bit stale and acidic, crackers-and-cheese-wise.

This analogy works with software too. The fact is that some people who like cheese very much will still be satisfied with the boring camembert from the supermarket, even if there is a great cheese shop opened right next door, selling delicious Saint-Nectaire and Banon for basically the same price. Not everyone likes things to the same degree, even among enthusiasts.

Another analogy. Great software is like a volume knob on an old hi-fi music system that feels well-tempered, well-oiled, with a satisfying touch, providing precision, reliability, and control. These knobs were a real sensation to touch and operate. Did they work better than standard knobs? Not really. Did they make the music sound better than crappy volume knobs? Not at all.

Only people who love volume knobs will care about volume knobs. People who love music don’t really care about the volume knobs. And among people who love software, only a few of them will genuinely care about its refinements. As long as it works, as long as it helps people do things, good enough is already plenty. A good tool is one that can help you do something faster, better. The materials of that tool, as long as it works, will only matter to snobs like me.

Like Craig Mod writes in the great Fast Software, Best Software piece that I’ve probably linked to a dozen times:

It’s the difference between the $1000 Japanese garden shears and the $150 garden shears. They both cut just fine, but if you work in the garden all day, you will (probably?) feel the difference.

A few years ago, I remember my friend Nabil replying to one of my iPhone home screen screenshots, saying something like, “Wow, you only have expensive apps on your home screen, so fancy!” So I guess I’m fancy when it comes to apps and software. I know that a great text editor won’t make me a better writer. Just like a premium car won’t get me to my destination faster because of speed limits. But sometimes it’s not about the outcomes, it’s about how you feel while achieving them.

And when compared to hardware, good software is much more affordable. The price difference between a Lexus and a Suzuki is significant. The price difference between excellent software and basic software is not that significant. After all, there is no software equivalent of Rolex.

The other day, I was getting frustrated with the iCloud sync of my RSS feeds in NetNewsWire. It works OK. It syncs between my phone and my computer, what else could I want? Well, it was a bit too slow for my taste, and not 100% reliable, so I subscribed to Feedbin just to make it smoother. It was not about convenience or efficiency, really; it was just about the details. Is there something wrong with me? No, I’m just a happy snob, and a proud one.

This philosophy is well-summarised in Barebones BBEdit’s slogan: “It doesn’t suck.” This is what snobs like me demand of software. That it doesn’t suck. That all the little imperfections are ironed out. That nothing about it feels shitty, rushed, incomplete, or buggy. Some people have different expectations for software — and also for websites for that matter — and this is probably why we often end up with terrible apps for most banks.

Is there any software that you would recommend? What Mac app am I missing out on that is truly enjoyable to use? Which one do you think feels like a precision-crafted and delightful piece of machinery? Please share your best suggestions.