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Date: Sat, 2 Mar 2002 18:31:03 -0500
To: erich@uruk.org
Cc: Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>, Julian Anastasov <ja@ssi.bg>,
        Szekeres Bela <szekeres@lhsystems.hu>,
        Daniel Gryniewicz <dang@fprintf.net>,
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Subject: Re: Network Security hole (was -> Re: arp bug )
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From: Andrew Pimlott <andrew@pimlott.ne.mediaone.net>
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On Sat, Mar 02, 2002 at 12:31:48PM -0800, erich@uruk.org wrote:
> My general contention is that the system should, by default, behave as
> non-experts would expect, but this might be a point where we can't
> agree.
> 
> It is, unfortunately, the cardinal rule when designing any usable
> interfaces.  I reference Donald Norman's "The Design of Everyday
> Things".  But I digress.

I must agree with Alan.  Low level technical interfaces should
behave according to standards, and should follow a consistent logic
understood by experts in the field (even if it is difficult for the
beginner).  If people try to push "usability" (and I'm as much a fan
of that book as you) onto kernel interfaces, we'll wade into a swamp
and never get out.

Such interfaces need not be exposed to ordinary users.  Indeed, by
keeping the low-level layer simple and orthogonal, it becomes easier
to build multiple user-facing layers (for different purposes, or for
comparison at the same purpose).  I think this principle is much
more powerful than the one you advance.

Andrew
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