We use too many damn modals (2018) • Hacker News Board

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#11

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:20 PM UTC

chrisco255 wrote: post #7

jmull wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

1-bit actually. (But, yes, it’s pretty awful and makes it hard to take the content seriously even though it’s good content.)

I found it entertaining. I would completely ignore this as a generic rant without the stylized presentation.

[deleted]

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#12

Post by qeternity » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:23 PM UTC

x32n23nr wrote: post #3

Modals are basically the fancy clone of old school javascript's alert(), and while everyone would rightfully be annoyed being "alerted" needlessly, designers have convinced themselves that it's fine to show modals frequently? Edit: Claiming it's only designers' fault, or generalizing that all designers do that, is obviously wrong. I did not mean that. What I meant to convey (partially failed) is that examples propaga…

I’m not sure this logic is honest. In the black and white world you posit, an alert is merely a window of information just like a browser window. Of course the devil is in the details. I don’t mind a popup if it’s for SSO but I do mind it if it shows an ad. The same goes for modals, and the differences between modals and alert() are for more significant than you give credit.

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#13

Post by w_for_wumbo » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:24 PM UTC

My biggest issue with modals, is that they never seem to be tested with mobile devices in mind. So when I'm on my phone, the ability to close it is often off the screen. The only choice is to leave the website at that point.

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#14

Post by kinkrtyavimoodh » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:24 PM UTC

ameyv wrote: post #4

I don't want to complain, website is harder to read with all that 8 bitsh font type...Maybe normal post with one example for each idea would be good enough.

The irony of a website with a deliberately terrible and gimmicky UI complaining about a functional UI model that has worked for decades.

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#15

Post by rightnow » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:27 PM UTC

I use full screen modals for my new project. A list of items. U click one and the item appears in a full screen modal. U close and you're at the same place you started.users love it and i dont see a problem with it.

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#16

Post by nameoda » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:28 PM UTC

The list of reasons why modals are bad are all very subjective. A little more explanation would have helped make the case that modals are bad.

Not to mention that what should be a list is displayed as a table (－‸ლ)

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#17

Post by quickthrower2 » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:29 PM UTC

In what context?

If you design a desktop application, like say Word then modals are more appropriate than the alternatives in many situations. For a site like Medium, a modal is an annoyance. If I asked for something (click Settings) then I am happier with my modal than if I didn't ask (we're going to stuff cookies on your page anyway, here is our arse coverer).

The underlying message I take is we "use too many things that make it easier for the coder and harder for the user". Sometimes that's a modal, but sometimes that's NOT using a modal!

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#18

Post by seventh-chord » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:31 PM UTC

pvg wrote: post #10

x32n23nr wrote: post #3

Modals are basically the fancy clone of old school javascript's alert(), and while everyone would rightfully be annoyed being "alerted" needlessly, designers have convinced themselves that it's fine to show modals frequently? Edit: Claiming it's only designers' fault, or generalizing that all designers do that, is obviously wrong. I did not mean that. What I meant to convey (partially failed) is that examples propaga…

Modal dialogs are a lot older than alert(). alert() is an instance of a modal dialog, not the other way round.

My impression from seeing old windows version (never having used anything older than vista) was that in general using an extra window instead of a separate pane inside the window was more common. As far as I can tell, the old windows explorer would pop open a new window for each opened folder. Now it seems like most programs are run in half/full-screen; They arent really treated as windows. IDEs have their own window-layout system anyways, right? (Modal) dialogs are probably more at place in a world where windows is more that just the name of the os.

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#19

Post by elcomet » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:35 PM UTC

aylmao wrote: post #9

I remember reading somewhere that most (modal) dialogs are just lazy design. It's easier to have a dialog component and throw whatever notice or controls in there. It's a predictable and flexible canvas. Your password is incorrect? Error dialog. Easier to design and build that a warning state on the text-boxes and a message close to the login button. Writing a post? Editor dialog. It's easier to design and build than…

Maybe it's lazy but the important question should be: is it good design?

I don't think it is, as it hides some information from the main page. But I think it can be done well and be useful, as said at the end of the article.

After all, OS use a lot of modals.

Re: We use too many damn modals (2018)

#20

Post by renewiltord » Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 9:38 PM UTC

Very easy to use a modal if I’m editing other parts of UI.