Evan Duffield,
I want to point out some flaws in the user flows of Darkcoin RC5 client. Please note that I work with user interfaces on a daily basis.
Current:
1) User can enable or disable anonimization, disabled by default.
2) If enabled, every time you start the client, it starts anomimizing any non-anonimized funds automatically.
Issues with Current:
1) It takes some effort to figure out how to enable anonimzation (Darksend). It's quite hidden.
2) When enabled, the client simply starts anonimizing all your funds automatically, without user request. To me, as a user, this feels very intrusive. What if I started the client to quickly check my funds, not to have my funds anonimized. The task is to start the client, not to start the client and anonimize funds at the same time. This is a very poor user experience. Usually in user flow design, flows are split per task type. In Darkcoin, tasks that are totally different are merged as one. Things even become worse if my wallet has a password: I get the password prompt shortly after enabling the client. My first reaction is, why the hell does the password prompt show, I didn't do anything? It looks like a bug. At the very least, the password prompt should explain why it is showing automatically.
Proposed:
The anonimization process absolutely needs to be user initiated, it should never happen automatically (although there could be advanced options for that). I'd like to compare the Darkcoin client to virus scanning software, since I feel that both software types share similarities in terms of task architecture.
Does virus scanning software start scanning your computer once you start the virus scanner? No, it doesn't. Why not? Because that would be intrusive. The user requests to start the program, not to perform any type of action in addition. Instead, virus scanning software simply has a big green 'Quick Scan' button in their home screen. The Darkcoin client should have the equivalent of this: A big green 'Anonimize Funds' button (do not call it "Darksend" please as this name is misleading). Clicking it would start the anonimizing process. If your wallet has a password, then you would see a prompt at this stage to enter your password. 'Anonimize Funds' button would be disabled if all your funds have already been anonimized.
Evan Duffield, can I get your opinion on this? I feel this would be a considerable improvement to RC5 as current implementation is very likely to scare off new users since the anonimization user flow is far from optimal at the moment..
you have some good points there but i'm not totally sure these kind of changes you request wouldnt fall under the Enhanced Darkcoin Wallet UI project of DRKLord (
https://darkcointalk.org/threads/enhanced-darkcoin-wallet-ui.1705/page-14).
Unfortunetely DRKlord got very ill and this project got postponed. They are now looking for a Qt/C++ frontend developer/GUI designer to get the project going again -->
http://www.reddit.com/r/DRKCoin/comments/2fp0ey/qtc_frontend_developergui_designer/ If we can find a good Qt/C++ frontend developer/GUI designer to continue with this project then maybe yr concerns / requests will be resolved automatically.
edit 1: and yes, i'm also taking this opportunity by replying to yr post to emphasize and inform everyone that there is still a need for a good Qt/C++ frontend developer/GUI designer
edit 2 : never mind... looks like Evan can do a lot more with the GUI aspect of wallets then i first thought