"Don't make me think" is only half of the story.
It's a #UX sin to assume that your app is the most important thing in your user's world, and add to their cognitive load unnecessarily. But sometimes the user *is* focused on your product. They don't want a low-touch, automagic experience. They want to be in control. Let them.
Don't *make* me think - but *let* me think.
This is part of why "reduce friction" is misleading. Friction is texture. Without it, there's nothing to grab on to
@PavelASamsonov
This is a great point, and as a neurodivergent (AuDHD) software developer, this is almost to the level of an accessibility issue for me.
If something doesn't have the knobs for me to customize it and become a power user, I often have tremendous trouble engaging with it. If I can't see the Settings ⚙️ from home, you've likely lost me.
But at the same time, when I'm low on executive function, I need a way to skip the minutiae and just Get It Done.
Users like me need Both.
Pavel A. Samsonov
Jamie