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Re: [Issue 943] Changed - svn prop* should be able to operate on URLs

From: Karl Fogel <kfogel_at_newton.ch.collab.net>
Date: 2002-10-28 22:05:21 CET

Eric Gillespie <epg@pretzelnet.org> writes:
> > + Just my $0.02: I think the subtle difference in -r behavior with the
> > + prop* commands versus other commands is okay. Yes, it is
> > + inconsistent, but in practice I'll bet few people get confused.
>
> I find it interesting that you acknowledge that the difference is
> a subtle one but nevertheless think most users will have no
> problem seeing and understanding the difference.

Well, clearly by "subtle" I must have meant something subtly different
from what you understood it to mean :-).

By "subtle", I mean that for a person thinking concentratedly about
this aspect of the interface, the difference between -r and without -r
is non-trivial to explain. But that doesn't mean it's hard for users
to learn, since learning happens in a different way than articulation.
For example, if you try to explain rectangular mouse highlighting in
words, it can sound quite complex -- yet people do it with no trouble.

There's no contradiction here. If you're looking for evidence that
the interface is going to confuse users, my use of the word "subtle"
to describe it is not such evidence.

> Users do stupid things even with well-designed, unconfusing
> interfaces. Bugs like this make the lives of those of us
> supporting these people harder than they already are. That's why
> i raised the issue twice before. When Ben Collins-Sussman
> suggested that i file this issue the way it is, i was reluctant
> to conflate the two issues, but went along anyway.
>
> Frankly, i don't care about operation on URLs, but the
> inconsistency is a real problem.

Sure; agree they are two separate issues, and happy to discuss the one
that concerns you. Did the interface confuse you or someone you know?
Are there some scenarios you can posit where it will confuse someone
and that will result in lossage?

(Btw, this is not yet an issue to be filed, because not everyone
agrees it is an issue. Let's have the discussion on the dev list, not
in the issue tracker.)

-K

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Received on Mon Oct 28 22:36:28 2002

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