Introduction

Should users be experts?

No. You should assume only very basic knowledge about your users.

But wait a second… What about 3D computer graphics software like Blender? You need an awful lot of control to be able to use Blender to create stunning CG. You’ll need more than basic knowledge.

So, yes. Users should be experts.

But wait, again! I shouldn’t have to be an expert to use a web browser!

So is the answer “sometimes”? Sorta. But that’s not a helpful answer at all! What do we do?

Hmm… There are differences between Blender and a web browser like Firefox. In Firefox, there isn’t as much to control.

There must be signs to which cases a user has to be an expert. Hey! What’s this? It looks like a bunch of ways to decide if your users should be experts is below this text. That’s handy.

Your users have to be experts if…

1) your feature list contains terminology that the average person wouldn’t know.

For this one, let’s compare the features of Blender and Firefox.

Now, Firefox sure looks simpler than Blender. This isn’t a good comparison though. Why? Well, Blender is already geared to professionals, so it doesn’t need a paragraph to explain each feature (look at the feature pages of both of them if you don’t get it).

But I would find it easier to explain live bookmarks than trying to explain modifier stack deformers. So I think it balances out.

2) your application can better be described as powerful and flexible rather than simple.

I covered a similar topic in “Simplicity is the new flexible.” While simple applications are gaining popularity over complex applications, there are things, like 3D modeling, that would be impossible to do well in a simple application.

3) your application is difficult to install.

Firefox isn’t that hard to install. If you’re making another app that requires being compiled, then that’s a different situation.

However, Blender doesn’t apply to this one as it is not that difficult to install.

Conclusion

If your application fits even one of the traits above, you know that you are developing a tool for power users.