Rapid Application Development for the masses.
censored distributed easy extendable fast informative intelligent lean maintainable open (source) portable pretty rfc'ed robust secure transparent version numbers virtual
Matrix-RAD is both user and admin friendly. Administrators (server operators, sysops, I'm sure runestone
will find an interesting name) can look after their part of the system from anywhere on the Internet using
an ordinary browser. Users will have a very informative and easy to navigate client, so they always know
what is going on.
The Amiga user interface style guide is an excellent work on the nuts and bolts of how to do standardised
user interfaces, we should use my annotated copy as much as possible. There should be several classes of
user, with standard skins to support those classes. Novice, user, operator, expert, guru are the
classes; with lurk, use, operate, install, program used as verbs. These terms are just for convenience,
gurus might not be able to program, and matrix-RAD is so easy that even novices can install for instance.
Novices have no idea about how computers work, and need as much hand holding as possible, especialy with
computer terminology. This would be the kiosk setting for matrix-RAD. No config stuff is visible to them,
it should all happen automagically. They can lurk.
Users have a basic understanding of how to use a computer, they probably have one at home or use one at
the office. matrix-RAD should just work for them, being as transparent as possible, with some basic config
stuff available. They can use.
Operators use computers on a daily basis, for several hours a day, and are expert in at least one
application, probably internet related. They can see some of the more esoteric matrix-RAD options. They can operate.
Experts are twelve year olds and other computer professionals that are expected to know how to configure
quite a few aspects of their favourite OS. They can access full configuration skins. They can install.
Gurus know internal details of their favourite OS, could install it blind folded, etc. They are allowed to
use the developers menu. The guru stuff should be available at all times through some obscure access method,
so gurus and experts can always access them on their novice friends machines. They should also be able to do
this via the Internet, with the actual users permission (a requester pops up and says "David Seikel <onefang@manlix-rad.net>
wants to really screw with your system, do you want to allow that?". PGP fingerprints and stuff should be
used for security here. They can program.
This file was last modified on Saturday, 08-Jan-2005 10:45:45 EST