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Posted by todsacerdoti 12/11/2025

Programmers and software developers lost the plot on naming their tools(larr.net)
422 points | 534 commentspage 17
amelius 12/11/2025|
One more reason why Windows is superior to OS X.
accrual 12/12/2025|
What are some examples of names that Windows does better than macOS and vice versa?

I've always though iOS naming was pretty logical - Calculator, Notes, Messages, Mail, Health, Clock, Calendar, Photos, Contacts, Maps, Settings. They're all named as if they're the reference implementation and everything else is 3rd party.

Under Windows we have Notepad, Paint, Terminal / Command Prompt. Word and Excel are likely household names so it's tough to ask a random person who's never heard of them to describe their purpose. But they did have "Clipchamp" which was a pretty dumb program IMO.

Here's a potential reference for Windows app naming conventions in modern Windows: https://windows-11.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_apps

bigyabai 12/12/2025||
Windows is pretty bad, but I have to give the dark pattern award to macOS for being overbloated with services. Especially if you're an average Joe; wouldn't you assume that AppleTV plays your video files, and Apple Music focuses on playing your MP3s? How are you supposed to know that Quicktime is the less intrusive option? It's hidden in a glut of inscrutable, outdated apps like Automator, 3D Chess and the graphing calculator everyone opens by accident. At least Windows knows to hide the cruft apps from the Start menu.

It's gotten to the point with macOS that I don't think my parents could use it. They use Windows just fine without knowing the difference between Terminal and Command Prompt, but macOS would be a mnemonic shoggoth too far.

ohboynotthis 12/11/2025||
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YouAreWRONGtoo 12/12/2025||
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casey2 12/11/2025|
LMAO ok dude, don't like it? fork it and change the name. The author has a DEEP misunderstanding of the science of human language, not surprised he's a Chomskyite.

Rule of thumb, disregard every post that uses the phrase "context switching"