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Ognjen Regoje
But you can call me Oggy


I make things that run on the web (mostly).
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The Marketplace Guide
A collection of lessons for the early stages of building a marketplace startup.
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Examples of Polite Software

In The Inmates Are Running the Asylum, Alan Cooper introduces the concept of "polite software" and the 14 characteristics it exhibits. While the book has started to show its age given it's come out in the 90s, the 14 principles still hold true and I try to keep them in mind as much as possible.

Here are the 14 characteristics along with a semi-regularly updated list of examples of each.

2 examples

1. Polite software is interested in me

It asks for information to personalize the experience. (264)

0 examples

2. Polite software is deferential to me

It does not make decisions on the users behalf. (188)

2 examples

3. Polite sofware is forthcoming

It shows the user all the relevant information that pertains to their current task. (278)

4 examples

4. Polite sofware has common sense

It has common sense similar to a person. (294)

6 examples

5. Polite software anticipates my needs

It often guesses correctly what the user is going to do next. (436)

1 examples

6. Polite software is responsive

It gives the user an output or a confirmation of input quickly. (200)

0 examples

7. Polite software is taciturn about it's personal problems

It does not make excuses about why a technical failure has occured. (149)

3 examples

8. Polite software is well informed

It has information that is useful to the user beyond what the user enters themselves. (259)

1 examples

9. Polite software is perceptive

It notices slight changes in input or repetiveness. (120)

0 examples

10. Polite software is self-confident

It nows what it does and that it's correct and accurately conveys that to the user. (67)

0 examples

11. Polite software stays focused

It provides context but is zoomed into the specific task at hand and it removes other distractions. (111)

3 examples

12. Polite software is fudgeable

It has ways to bypass its own restrictions and validations. (311)

2 examples

13. Polite software provides instant gratification

It does so by clearly and quickly indicating the success and outcome of the action performed. (191)

1 examples

14. Polite software is trustworthy

It produces the correct results and stores them appropriately. (139)