Talk at EclipseCon NA 2015

1. Diagrams,!
Xtext, !
and UX
Jan Köhnlein - itemis

2. User eXperience
a person's perceptions and responses
that result from the use of
a product, system or service.
It is very emotional
and quite subjective.

3. Good UX
is the reason why
people like a product.

4. Ingredients of Good UX
• Ease of use, Fun
• Reactivity
• Consistency
• Little configuration
• but most of all…

5. No Quirks!

6. Surprise: „Not what I expected“
Damage: „I am losing data“
Impediment: „I cannot do that“

7. Language IDE Framework

8. User eXperience of Xtext
• Consistent set of IDE features
• Good performance
• Good defaults…
• …but you can customize almost everything
Good!
UX

9. Xtext
+ Diagram Editor
= Quirks

10. Cross-Ref Semantics
Element name!
Scopes!
Rename refactoring
Xtext
Element ID!
Direct X-ref!
Rename attribute
Diagram
Editor

11. Identity & Transactions
Objects are modified!
EMF Transaction
Objects are replaced !
IXtextDocument
Diagram
Editor
Xtext

12. Persistence
Valid!
Models
Saveable!
in XMI
Diagram
Editor
Xtext
Saveable!
in Xtext

13. TreeNode
*
children
Diagram
Node Edge
edgesnodes * *
node A {
node B
node C
}
Bi-Directional Mapping
A
CB
Diagram {
Node A
Node B
Node C
Edge(A,B)
Edge(A,C
}

14. Bi-Directional Mapping
Diagram
Editor
Xtext
Editor
Uni
View

15. Quirks From Using
Diagram Frameworks

16. „Usability is already addressed
by the framework“

17. „Design is overrated“

18. Lock-in
Abstract
everything !
More models !
Solve the generic
use case!
Integrate
every framework in the
word !
Maximium # of
features
private, final, ..

19. Diagram frameworks
prevent you from taking
control over the UX.

20. Diagram Tool UX
• flawless, modern graphics
• smooth, non-irritating behavior
• self-explaining, haptic experience
• easy choice of content
• multi-touch gestures
• good defaults / little customization

22. +

23. +

24. FXDiagram

25. Oomph!Update!
Site
Plain
Java

26. UX is why people like
your product.

27. Take back control
over UX.

28. And get rid of the
Quirks!

29. XRobots
XRobots
Program your robot in a web browser. Teach it sumo wrestling.!
Challenge others and watch the show at the itemis booth.
join the game at
xrobots.itemis.de