>>After reading a few threads on UI it became apparent that we as a group of programmers have some very different users in mind when we develope software.
>>
>>So who is your user group?
>>For bonus: What concessions, if any, have you made to/for them?
>
>I think most of us here are in the business of custom made software. If not, we will be writing programs in C++ :). Whatever the user wants, the user gets (one way or another). That said, and even in departments within the same organization, users want different things. So, I'll say keep the user close when designing your UI, otherwise risk him/her/they not using it at all. In this case you'll be labeled the weirdo that lives in his own world.
>
>Even with shrink wrapped application software the user-to-be has to buy in to the way things are, or pay dearly for changes. In any case, the intended user has the last word. So don't think putting together 'user groups' will make your life easy. Even reading several books on UI design will only take you so far.


A user group is not 'put together'. The term is being used to draw a difference between THE USER, who seems to be mash into some ultra generic person, and the TARGET USER of your software. So user groups are just sort of there. Ex: A librarian system has a different user group than a real time weather station system. And the interfaces need to take that into account.

And no, they don't make life easier. If everyone thought about UI's the same way then life would be easier. :)

Good day.