View source for Convivial Internet Tools

The [http://conviviality.ouvaton.org/article.php3?id_article=2 characteristics] that make a physical tool "convivial" can also be sought after in the design of software. This means designing software to make it easy for the average user to penetrate as deeply as they desire into the program, in order to understand how it works, and to modify or configure it without disastrous consequences. Such a design implies use of convivial principles such as reparability, simplicity, robustness, open access and modularity.

The "convivial software program" is the opposite of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_box black box]. Thus [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software open source software] is by nature far more convivial than closed source programs. Linux is by nature more convivial than Windows, even though it still lags behind in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability usability] and market share. And for all the beauty and usability of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple,_Inc. Apple] products, they are "black boxes" from the point of view of both software and hardware. (It could be noted in passing that the hardware of the traditional [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PC_compatible IBM-compatible PC], based on open standards, ranks high in "conviviality"). 

Internet software in general, including open source software for use on the Internet, remains far from the ideals of conviviality. My personal activity in this area is currently limited to learning about these tools, with the permanent intention of trying to penetrate as far as possible into their inner workings. I've begun recording some of my progress on my [http://iuserguide.com/index.php?title=Main_Page Internet User Guide] website. Rather than actually trying to modify software design, which would be beyond my personal capabilities, I am merely working on an Internet [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_help help site] (see [[Convivial Help Sites]]).

==See Also==
*[[Convivial Internet]]
*[[Michael's Projects]]

[[Category:Projects]]