Fast Software, the Best Software
This essay argues that fast software is inherently the best software, fostering user 'flow' and indicating superior engineering, even if its value is often overlooked. The author critiques modern applications like Adobe products and Google Maps for their bloat-induced slowness, contrasting them with nimble tools like nvALT and Figma. Hacker News readers largely resonate with this sentiment, debating the ultimate priority of speed versus features and even the essay's own writing style.
The Lowdown
The author champions 'fast software' as the epitome of quality, user experience, and robust engineering. They define fastness not just as quick execution, but as an intuitive, lag-free interface that allows users to 'meld' with their tools and maintain creative flow.
- nvALT & Sublime Text as Exemplars: Highlights nvALT's instant responsiveness for notes and Sublime Text's consistent speed even with large files, attributing this to focused design and engineering. These are contrasted with the feature-rich but often slow Ulysses.
- Adobe's Decline: Criticizes Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop for their increasing slowness and bloat, which the author believes stems from feature creep and suboptimal core engineering. This drove them to faster alternatives like Affinity Photo.
- Design Tools & Speed as Commercial Asset: Praises Sketch and Figma for their speed and focus, arguing that a delightful, fast user experience can be a significant commercial advantage, even for browser-based applications like Figma.
- Google Maps vs. Apple Maps: Laments Google Maps' regression into slowness due to excessive animations and UI complexity, which ultimately led the author to reinstall the now zippier Apple Maps.
- iTunes as a Cautionary Tale: Cites iTunes as the nadir of software bloat, leading to its necessary deconstruction into separate, more focused applications. Keynote is held up as an example of excellent, fast Apple software.
- Speed as a Proxy for Reliability: Suggests that software slowness often signals underlying engineering issues or a lack of attention to detail, eroding user trust.
- User Interface Nuances: Even subtle UI changes, like dialog box wording ('Delete' vs. 'Don't Save'), can disrupt flow. The iPadOS 'Slide Over' is lauded for its tactile, fast, and intuitive design, in stark contrast to the clunky 'Split Screen'.
In conclusion, the essay posits that while challenging to achieve, fast software ultimately lightens the user's burden, enables fluency, and represents a higher form of craftsmanship. It's the difference between battling a tool and achieving seamless creation.
The Gossip
Fast Fanatics vs. Feature Fixated
Many commenters strongly agree with the author's premise that fast software is superior, equating speed with quality and a better user experience. They express frustration with bloat and slowness in modern applications. However, a pragmatic counter-argument is raised: while speed is desirable, convenience, features, or the 'time saved' by a powerful, albeit slower, tool (like a WYSIWYG editor) can sometimes be more valuable. Some even propose 'no software' as the ideal, highlighting a philosophical leaning towards minimalist solutions.
The 'Slop' Squad vs. Artful Authors
A notable portion of the discussion revolves around the writing quality of the essay itself. Some critics dismiss it as 'slop,' pointing to specific phrases or perceived logical inconsistencies. Conversely, others defend the article, praising its relatable observations and the author's prolific, human writing style, finding it an enjoyable read despite any minor flaws.
Temporal Troubles
Several commenters quickly point out that the article was originally published in 2019. While not a deep discussion, this observation provides crucial context for the examples and arguments presented, reminding readers to consider the technological landscape at the time of writing.