I think I just saw the worst dialog box in human history. This is so atrocious, there is no dialog box being made by any programmer on planet earth that can beat the mindnumbing stupidity of this contraption. Observe:
I don’t give a damn about what Viewpoint is, or whether it’s been updated or not. It’s probably some sort of spyware, why would I click ‘Who is Viewpoint?’ (but I sure would like to know what it is). And why do I need to hit an Update button if I’ve been Updated, as the title says? And ok, there’s no restart required, but what the hell will clicking Update do? And don’t you even dare tell me your opinion about my browser, you’re just a fucking program.
That’s just the start though. The satanic aspects are yet to come: it’s undismissable! Unlike most notices that pop up on the bottom right, (Windows, Java, Firefox and co. update notifications), it didn’t go away in a few seconds. Worse: it didn’t go away when you move focus to another program, it stays at the goddamned top of the screen. So this demonic implement is taking 20% of my screen space and just sitting there. WHERE ARE THE OK AND CANCEL BUTTONS? WHERE IS THE TOP RIGHT CLOSE BUTTON? WHERE IS THE CANCEL BUTTON, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT’S HOLY, HOW DO I DISMISS THIS DIALOG?!
Dear coders, designers, and other people who have the power to summon that UI element born in the depths of misery-inflicting laboratories, the dialog box: You must never, ever, ever make a dialog box without a cancel action. You just can’t. There is no operating system dialog in Windows XP that can not be dismissed, your program is not important enough to presume that it has higher priority. Are you fucking kidding me? Never, ever, ever, make an undismissable dialog box. Unless my house is on fire, I don’t care enough.
