The Evolution of Software: From User Tools to Needy Applications
By
robenkleene
6mo ago· 5 min readenInsight
75/100
Toasty
Bagelometer↗
Plain bagel done well. Pleasantly substantive.
Score75TypeanalysisSentimentnegative
Summary
The article examines the evolving relationship between users and software, contrasting older programs that served user needs with modern apps that demand user engagement through accounts, notifications, and data collection. It argues that software has shifted from being a tool to becoming a needy entity that requires user attention, accounts, and personal data, fundamentally changing the user-program dynamic from one of control to one of obligation.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledOlder programs were all about what you need: you can do this, that, whatever you want, just let me know. You were in control, you were giving orders, and programs obeyed.
But recently (a decade, more or less), this relationship has subtly changed. Newer programs (which are called apps now, yes, I know) started to want things from you.
The most obvious example is user accounts. In most cases, I, as a user, don't need an account. Yet programs keep asking for one.
We used to use software; now software started to use us.
We used to use software; now software started to use us
