Rant.

If the devil is in the details, so is God. Restricting this discussion only to computer software: There is obviously a geeky layer where the functionality of the software is actually written. Then there is the user interface on top of that, and details like the installation/uninstallation routines above all. But time and time again, especially on Windows, good functionality is sabotaged by bad UI or other "window dressing" coding. Why don't these people learn? Oh I know, it's because they are complete left-brainers who consider that stuff fluff. But most people who sit an use a computer do not consider it fluff, and even some of us who are savvy on the left-brained side appreciate a person who can also see an inherent worth in aesthetics and consistency.

When I go to install a newer version of a program, for example, I shouldn't be told I have to uninstall the older version first, then be kicked out of the install program. That is bad. Nor should the installer treat the new version as a separate program and install it alongside the old program, so that you end up with Version 5 and 6 still both accessible. That is confusing and wasteful. The best installer say something like, "an older version of X has been detected installed on your computer. Would you like to update it to this newest version?" And then when you click "Yes", it gives you helpful status updates, like "Old version uninstalling...", "Version 6 now being installed..." and so on. So you know exactly what is happening.

Also, every program should ask you about how you want your file associations to work with this new program, if there are other, competing products on the market, and not automatically take over all filetypes for itself. It should also ask you whether you want to install for this user only or for everyone using the computer, and what kind of shortcuts it should install (Start menu group, desktop, quicklaunch). If there are any "helper" programs that will run full-time in memory but are not strictly necessary, it should give you a choice there too (XHelper will help X to load faster, but it does take up a small amount of memory at all times in order to provide this function. Do you want it to run in the background or not?). People appreciate choices (at least I do), and knowing exactly what an installer is doing to your preciously perfect system.

To me, this high-level user communication is at least as important as what the program actually does underneath, at its core. I HATE inconsistency, orphaned files, imperfect installations, needless helper programs, needless services, bad UIs, insufficient communication on what exactly is being installed/uninstalled/changed, and just generally shoddy tacked-on right-brained stuff by left-brained geeks who probably don't shower every day either. Do I make myself clear??