As I'm observing engineers, I notice that most of them share the same characteristic: unending loads of curiosity. You, software developers, are de...
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This really resonated with me.
One thing I've been realizing lately is that the hardest part of many tasks isn't the task itself—it's the uncertainty around it.
I had a similar experience when I started communicating with Japanese clients. The technical part wasn't always the scary part. It was the not knowing. Not knowing if I'd understood correctly, if I was about to make a mistake, or if I'd missed some important context.
What I liked about your story is that it highlights something developers often overlook: reducing uncertainty is a feature.
A clear next step, a reassuring message, or simply explaining what happens next can completely change how someone experiences a product.
"Good UX wasn't about polish or a nice layout. It was what made me feel safe enough to keep going."
That line is going to stick with me for a while. Thanks for sharing this.
"it's the uncertainty around it" - You're absolutely right. What always stops me in GameDev is that idk what to do. So I sit and do the GDD, but after 10 hours of demonstrating my writing skills, I panic that I've accomplished nothing but this piece of junk paper. As a result, the work always stalls 😭
Honestly, I think that's exactly why so many creative projects stall.
Sometimes the problem isn't lack of motivation or ability. It's having so many possible directions that your brain starts trying to solve the entire project before you've built the first piece of it 😭
I've definitely fallen into that trap too.
One thing that's helped me is treating uncertainty as something to reduce through action rather than planning. Sometimes 30 minutes of building teaches me more than 3 hours of thinking about what to build.
Easier said than done though 😅
I was hoping if I can work with you to see your workflow. I have been into GameJam before and understanding the stress. Curious to know if I could help!
If you want, you could join me and @codingwithjiro on this since we are building a game on DEV after all. You would have to join Virtual Coffee to just talk there, but we can accommodate.
how do I join? What's this virtual coffee? btw my ds: jennytheglow
I added you on discord!
For virtual coffee, you would have to join on their website and you will be put on the waitlist. I will let the organizer know that you are on the waitlist: virtualcoffee.io/join
Fun Fact: @nickytonline is in this org and he used to work for DEV! :)
Many users have that "GAD" mindset.
When things take time, they panic: "Why is this taking so long? Did I miss a step??"
Reassuring messages actually suppress that spiraling. They calm the noise so users can think clearly.
Building user-friendly apps isn't just about layouts, it's about emotional comfort. Users should navigate confidently from start to finish without ever feeling stuck.
Thanks for sharing this Klaudia ❤️.
Exactly! And we, as people who have a real impact on creating this digitalised world, can make such a big difference by taking accessibility into account while building apps 💛
Klaudia, thanks for sharing this. The cafe example was a great way to explain it because it shows how something that seems small from a developer's perspective can have a big impact on the person using it.
Reading this reminded me that good UX is not only about making things work. Whenever I am building something, I try to think about the human side too. I often ask myself what questions someone might have, where they could get stuck, or what might make them hesitate. In a recent project, I spent time putting together FAQs and documentation because I knew people would probably run into those questions sooner or later.
Sometimes a simple status message, a clear explanation, or letting someone know what happens next can make the whole experience feel much easier. Your experience was a good reminder of that.
That's the whole point. I wish more engineers would be like you: considering how to make a product usable and accessible. Keep doing a great job! 🚀
Nice story, well explained!
I guess many people have a mild form of "GAD", they're risk-avoidant, with a tendency to avoid or postpone actions where "something might go wrong" - bit of an "if it ain't broken don't fix it" mentality, or a reluctance to step out of their comfort zone (although actual GAD is surely something quite different) ...
A UI/UX which works the way you described is absolutely a boon then ... nice story!
The avoidance you described is one of the symptoms of GAD. It's important to be aware of this, as if not handled, it can develop and start impacting your life. Missing chances and opportunities is one thing, but you can start choosing "worse" options because they feel safer. Just like staying with my old mobile operator would be. I also remember I was avoiding driving a car for a long time, and was even pretty successful in convincing myself a bus is a better option, even if it took much longer 😅
Wish you all the best; keep being mindful and self-aware 🙂
Thank you! Well, I guess many people have a mild form of it, and in many cases it won't really affect you that much beyond not "optimizing" everything in your life, but if you're actually getting "less happy" because of it then of course it's a different matter ...
This really hits home. The moment you described — being ready to give up even though the alternative was clearly better — that's such an honest way to put it. Most people would just say "I chose the easier option" but the truth is, bad UX takes that choice away from you before you even make it consciously.
The three things you listed at the end (reducing uncertainty, human language, progress signals) should honestly be a checklist on every project kickoff.
Agree! 💯 Apart from the human impact, good UX is very often a factor that makes a project stand out from the competition. No matter how fancy the tooling you used, in the end the users will choose the app that feels more convenient and more intuitive to use.
As developers, we get so caught up in metrics, conversions, and complex feature roadmaps that we completely forget our code interacts with real human beings in vulnerable states. Your point about accessibility not just being a checkbox, but literally serving as a digital anchor during a medical emergency, is profound. This is a beautiful reminder of why user-centric design matters.
good article.
"I am terrified of breaking things". You didn't see me. I launch the AI, tell it what to do so it doesn't break. Half an hour later, result is -1000 lines, +2000. Everything doesn't work, but in the end, it does 😫 It's normal. Don't be afraid to break things
My mobile provider is so bad (like everyone else) that I have to use a VPN with the VLESS proto. It got me interested in networking and realized how difficult it is.
I recently switched to Linux Fedora, and what really impressed me wasn't KDE's HUD, but how user-friendly the Linux console is. Everything is clear. Everything is beautifully written and easy to use, even though it's just text, without an interface. It really makes you think that UX can be more important than UI!
Thank you for the comment 💛
Actually, I am learning not to be afraid of breaking things by exposing myself to this. It's called exposure therapy – so I build, break, and fix, proving to myself that I can handle the situation even if it gets bad. This is partially what got me into "coding" 😄
Interesting point! I always associated UX with UI, but, as you pointed out, it's way more than that! Well-commented code and intuitive design can make a huge difference both for users and fellow developers. Good to note that 🙂
This is a good reminder that app quality isn’t only about performance or clean UI.
Sometimes the real test is whether the product feels calm, clear, and reliable when someone is already stressed.
While I don't share the same anxiety, I too have a different problem when it comes to badly implemented UX. If I find it too complex and confusing or just even looking at all the information I need to fill up, I just end closing he tab.
If too many is being asked, I just simply walk away. Even a simple need for signing in for a new account just for a simple task of, say, converting a file is too much of a hassle.
I'm glad you brought this up. People are opening a site to do one thing. Let them do it peacefully without adding more stress in their life with bad UX.
Good that you pointed that out! Sometimes I have a feeling that engineers expect the user to be as excited as they are while writing software. Meanwhile, the market is way more strict. If the app requires too much and feels overwhelming, the user just closes the tab and looks somewhere else.
Good UX may turn out to be a main factor that makes the app stand out from the competition.
Those four prompts are actually a universal design litmus test for reducing cognitive load, emotional load, and decision risk—not just in UX, but in architecture, policy, onboarding, documentation, and even governance frameworks.
Exactly! Would be super cool to keep them in mind in our everyday work 💛
Reducing uncertainty is a feature — that reframe earns the read alone. Most of us optimize for whether it works, never for whether it feels safe.
Hi , actually I'm building an application that looks just like yours in the same theme, I hope you check in in my page . And by the way , I really liked the idea , keep the good work😊
Sounds interesting, will have a look!
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