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Refresh Is Sacred (tbray.org)

Posted by msmash on from the design-choices dept.

Several Slashdot readers share a blog post: There are two kinds of client applications: The first kind has a "refresh" or "reload" button to make sure your app's in sync with its server's view of the world. The second kind is broken. Of late, I have to deal regularly with several apps, notably including an emailer and car-sharing service, that lack such a button. I can imagine why -- a customer focused product manager said "Steve Jobs taught us that fewer controls are better and we should just take care of making sure we're in sync with the cloud. So lose the button. Except, it doesn't work. Apparently nobody in the world is smart enough to arrange flawlessly reliable hands-off client/cloud synchronization. There are times when you just know that what you're seeing on the screen is wrong and if the stupid app would just assume everything it knows is wrong and ask for a brain transplant from its server, things would be OK.

5 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. And make sure it is an actual button by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Some applications have started using a "scroll past the top to refresh" crap and if you don't know the application can do that, then you don't know it has the feature in the first place.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
    1. Re:And make sure it is an actual button by TWX · · Score: 5, Informative

      On a full-featured PC I would agree, but on something with a small screen where every function takes up an inordinate amount of that screen (ie a smartphone that has a UI large enough that a human finger can use) it makes sense to use a model that lacks a dedicated button for the function.

      Like everything it's a compromise. Google's gmail application on Android uses this kind of refresh and it wasn't exactly difficult to accidentally trigger the first time and then subsequently continue using when it became apparent.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    2. Re:And make sure it is an actual button by houstonbofh · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They keep turning high powered multi-monitor computers into phones. I hate that my tablet keeps redirecting to the mobile site... On a 10 inch screen!

  2. And then there are "smart" refresh buttons by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't even bother using Firefox's refresh button, it doesn't actually request the page a second time. CTRL-F5 is now the default refresh.

  3. Refresh is overrated by Waffle+Iron · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was hitting refresh on this very site for the last couple of days, and I got nothing.