Matt Godden

I’ve been a huge fan, and booster of #Mona #MonaApp as a #Mastodon client for #Mac, #iPhone and #iPad since it was released, but sadly there are real problems with its basic functionality that aren’t getting fixed.

I wish I wasn't having to waste time documenting / blogging about this, but I paid for the app, and it isn’t doing the one core thing it's supposed to do (spoiler - #iCloud timeline reading position syncing). :/

https://www.mattgodden.com/2024/10/24/the-problem-with-mona/

The Problem with Mona. – Matt Godden

Oct 24, 2024 at 9:45amMona for Mac
Show threadexactocratOct 24, 2024
@metaning From day one I've been asking that each list of themes be sortable and/or reorderable!
Show threadMatt GoddenOct 24, 2024
@exactocrat list of themes... referring to?
Show threadexactocratOct 24, 2024
@metaning Lists seen in the Settings > 'Appearance & Themes' screen. In my eyes, themes not being reorderable may well qualify as a lack of basic functionality. Leaves a bad impression when basic functionality goes overlooked for a long, long time. I hope that things will improve!
Show threadMatt GoddenOct 24, 2024
@exactocrat ahh right, I don’t think I’ve used the themes beyond System / Black
Show threadtheaackOct 24, 2024
@metaning Yes, I don't switch between devices any more. Also, and I'm not sure if this is part of what you were referencing in your post, but if I don't get back to my feed within 12 hours there are large gaps with no "load more posts"... I always scroll from oldest to newest/forward in time. So, close it at 5:30 am, pick it up at 7:30 pm, there is no way to access posts from 5:30 am until usually 3-5 hours later. Do you know if this is a Mona or server or Mastodon thing?
Show threadMatt GoddenOct 24, 2024
@ackeaa I think that problem has its genesis in Mastodon’s devs telling app developers they can’t have more than the most recent 4 hours by default, because Masto isn’t very good as dealing with server loads. I have vague memory of there being some hints at “we may act to block apps that are too hungry for posts”.
Show threadKomodore68Oct 28, 2024

@metaning "… . It really does seem that no one is capable of making truly great software any more. …"

As a software developer, I see things a little differently. It really seems that no one is willing to pay a reasonable price for really good software. This is especially true for native phone or pad apps. "It's just an app...?!"

Show threadMatt GoddenOct 28, 2024
@Komodore68 Chicken & egg. I wish more developers would charge more for Mac apps (and make the apps for computers other than laptops), but not with this stupid faux-subscription where you only get a year of bugfixes (fixing bugs is literally making the product fit for sale under warranty), and then you have to upgrade every year. I always go for the “lifetime perpetual licence” if it’s offered, but I expect software that’s at least as good as we could get in 2010.
Show threadKomodore68Oct 28, 2024
@metaning Yes, ...., the good old days.
Show threadMatt GoddenOct 28, 2024
@Komodore68 yeah, literally, *good* old days. Software around then was almost universally better than modern software. More affordances to power users with tear-off palettes, multiple windows - and easier for non-power users, because somewhere along the line, software developers lost their minds and started to believe that UI for settings is inherently complicated, and everything should be “intuitive” and non-discoverable. (1/2)
Show threadMatt GoddenOct 28, 2024
Hell I have the Affinity suite - modern, allegedly “good” software, and in every way it is inferior in terms of usability to Adobe Create Suite CS5, which is from pre-2010. It seems to be made by people who’ve never actually done the job the software is supposed to be used to do. (2/2)
Show threadMatt GoddenOct 28, 2024
To rant at how bad Affinity is, none of the image resizing, or canvas resizing UIs anywhere in the app are labelled with Width or Height, they’re just boxes and you’re supposed to divine from which number is larger, and your pre-assumed knowledge of the aspect ratio of the image, which box corresponds to which axis. Also, no droplists to next to them, to choose units - mm, cm, pixels etc. You’re supposed to just write it in after a number. *facepalm*