Cynical Software -

But somewhere in the last five years, that greeting changed. It used to say, “Here is what you wanted.” Now, it says, “Here is what we are willing to give you to keep you clicking.”

We have entered the era of .

The best software does not manipulate you. It simply works, then gets out of your way. That is not naive. That is mature. And it is the only path out of the hellscape of cynical software we have built for ourselves. cynical software

You can build the dark pattern. You can hide the cancel button. You can pre-tick the checkbox. The data says it will work. For a quarter or two, your metrics will improve. But somewhere in the last five years, that greeting changed

The business model was simple: you paid money, you got a tool. The tool’s goal was 100% aligned with your goal. If you finished your document faster, that was a victory for everyone. It simply works, then gets out of your way

Think about the last time you tried to unsubscribe from a newsletter. You clicked “Unsubscribe” and were taken to a page that said, “We’re sad to see you go. To confirm, enter your email, then check your inbox for a confirmation link, then click a second link, then rate your reason for leaving 1-5 stars.”

That is cynical software. A counter-movement is emerging. It is small, but it is vocal. Developers are building earnest software —tools that assume the user is intelligent, busy, and deserves respect.