It seems like user interfaces should be decoupled from functionality of applications. Someone should be able to freeze their user interface in time if they wish.

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Gigachad 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

This is kind of how things used to be when you had 3rd party clients for things like email/irc/XMPP. Eventually it was decided that having a unified design and feature set was much more beneficial and simple for users than being able to theme the client.

	▲	strobe 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		probably more beneficial for business not for a users.

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linguae 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I agree. Six years ago during COVID I wrote a document describing my idea of a dream personal computing environment, where all functionality is accessible using an API, enabling scripting and customizable UIs. UIs are simply shells covering functionality provided by various objects.

Unfortunately I haven't had the time to implement this vision, but Smalltalk environments such as Squeak and Pharo appear to be great environments to play around with such ideas, since everything is a live object.

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mitkebes 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

A lot of Linux programs are command line only, with multiple GUIs available to use them. Sounds similar to what you're describing.

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wizzwizz4 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

It's not a novel idea: I've also invented that, as have most people I know who've thought about this problem. (This is a good thing: it means it'll be fairly easy to bootstrap a collaborative project.) I never got as far as writing up a full document, though: only scattered notes for my own use. Would you mind sharing yours?

	▲	linguae 3 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Sure: this is the document that I wrote about building a component-based desktop: https://mmcthrow-musings.blogspot.com/2020/04/a-proposal-for...

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paulcole 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Someone should be able to freeze their user interface in time if they wish.

Why?

	▲	computersuck 4 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Because people are habitual, and mental load increases when you have to learn the UI again every update. Like if someone decided to change all your pots and pans every few months, it's harzadous for cooking.
	▲	layer8 5 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		For the same reason you can keep the interior design of your house the same for decades. Also, why not? It should just be a UI theme, decoupled from actual functionality.