One of the ironies of software design is how difficult it is to make things simple. The instinct most developers have is to keep adding buttons, settings and menus, mistakenly thinking users will equate more features with a better product.
But the best developers see their job as removing such clutter. Crucially, they’re not afraid of users instantly rejecting a stripped-back interface because it looks too basic. They also know which tools are essential in a program, and prioritise those within the design.
Robert Irvine has spent most of his adult life seeking simple software, and reveals his current favourites in our Cover Feature. These most definitely aren’t basic tools. They all contain advanced features that will satisfy confident users. And they all seem to know what you want to do before you’ve even thought of it.
As a simple man of simple pleasures, they suit me perfectly. To be happy I merely need a mug of coffee, Beethoven on repeat and a photo-editing program without a trillion filters.