screen layout

available games are now displayed in 2x2 squares which are randomly overlayed on the chessboard.

previously, they appeared listed orderly in a single column.

why has this happened? is there a setting that can revert back to the list instead of the random squares?

It happened because I had fun coding some JS yesterday night. You can't revert it, so you'll have to get used to it.

If you can't have what you want, try to want what you have.

I like the new layout! Very cool! My only quibble is that I don't know if my opponent has made the game white, black, or random.

thibault...

your comment seems to suggest you are the programmer and therefore responsible for the change in the layout.

i have been a keen programmer since the 80's so i have a vast amount of experience so let me tell you what i think...

it is very bad programming to change the format of something that users are already familiar and comfortable with. what might appear to be 'cool' to you is not always 'cool' for others.

because of your thoughtless and careless programming attitude, you have forced this on users without prior notification nor consultation.

you arrogance in thinking this is 'cool' or 'clever' because you have 'dancing' 2x2 squares popping up randomly is a very misguided judgement in design principles.

as already indicated by nossing, it lacks the feature where it shows the colour of the opponent pieces.

i remember many years ago when designers did the same thing to flight console instruments. they replaced analog meters and clocks with 'cool' digital ones. this led to several aviation accidents - some fatal.

the reason was down to the fact pilots were then required to 'read' and 'interpret' what was being displayed on the instrument panel whereas before, it was sufficient to see at a glance the dials of clocks 'pointing' (even roughly) in a particular direction to know all was well - which is why analog clocks are still used in aircrafts to this day.

the same applies to cars. have you ever wondered why the speedometers tend to point in roughly the same directions to signify different speeds? it's because when you drive, you don't need to 'interpret' the reading, you can tell at just a glance...

so this brings me to point i want to make. with 2x2 squares popping up randomly, it's difficult to actually tell 'at a glance' which game to click on (not to mention the lack of opponents' colour choice).

and to 'force' this on users shows you arrogance and poor design principles.

'programmers' (and i use that term loosely because, although you can 'code' it doesn't actually mean you can 'design') like you are dangerous people. you should consider getting a job with microsoft...

so here's how you redeem yourself. provide an option for users to revert back to what they are already comfortable with.

and here's a tip. why change something that already works?

and here's a quote from me: a bad programmer is a programmer who 'meddles' with code.

you may think it's clever to have 2x2 squares randomly popping up on the screen but just imagine if that's how a flight controller's screen behaved! the distraction alone would be enough to make the whole operation difficult to use. and while playing chess is not in the same league as flight control missions, there's still a lesson to be learned here.

You don't like the change. Well I think I will survive it.

Oh, and sorry for the dead pilots.

have fun while coding thibault.. :)

( in my opinion the only thing i point is that it is a little confuse the 2X2 squares to choose a game )

keep on the good work!

I don't like this. It is disarranged.

paultomasi: "difficult to actually tell 'at a glance' which game to click on"

nossing: "I don't know if my opponent has made the game white, black, or random"

pamps: "it is a little confuse the 2X2 squares to choose a game"

japetko: "I don't like this. It is disarranged"

thibault: "you'll have to get used to it"

thibault: "If you can't have what you want, try to want what you have"

thibault: "You don't like the change. Well I think I will survive it"

WHAT AN ARROGANT CUNT !!

I have to agree. The new design looks really cool, but isn't as functional as the previous layout.

Chesscaptcha! :D

"because of your thoughtless and careless programming attitude, you have forced this on users without prior notification nor consultation."

You assume this, but everyone who has survived into the lichess chat has been on IRC talking with thibault about such things. He proposed this idea first on IRC before implementing it, and we weren't all sure whether to agree with it entirely but nonetheless were curious how it would look so wanted to encourage him into trying it.

So, if somebody has to be blamed for it ending up implemented, blame us all for wanting to see it.

"you arrogance in thinking this is 'cool' or 'clever' because you have 'dancing' 2x2 squares popping up randomly is a very misguided judgement in design principles."

Sort of how I felt about it first. There isn't really anything symbolic/meaningful about them being allocated in 2x2 squares; it just happens to fit that way in that space.

It's somewhat too incidental/unprofessional, but once he implemented it, I decided it seems improved. It's not auto-scrolled by linear listing (like causing how to mis-click and join the wrong game on accident) and there is more space on the page to show all of the games now.