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dbroda

3
Posts
A member registered Apr 10, 2020

Recent community posts

I can concur, and also recommend a major cleanup and overhaul.

I have been using Cider for years now and have had to pay for this open source client twice as they continue to update their standards and distribution (part of this is Apple's fault for always changing their API, thus breaking the cider app everytime Apple makes a change). That being said, there is a lot left to be desired from a usability standpoint. I put up with a lot for a while during the beta, but it still feels "pre-alpha" levels of buggy at times, successful sign-in often requires multiple attempts (sign in via token doesn't work at all), and then, you need to restart the app in order to get the interface to properly load your library and *maybe* display your name. Also hovering over the side bar items affects the styling of other elements. A lot of questions, not a lot of answers.

Almost every time I've installed this app, be it on Linux or Windows, there is always some issue preventing sign-in or proper installation that has a "temporary fix" from the devs, posted via discord or the itch forums here... Until the next release breaks everything again, or they change their minds on the interface, CDN, or ecosystem AGAIN.

As you say, there's inconsistency in releases, too. The FlatHub distribution has long been abandoned for instance, yet it is still there, cat-fishing people with a broken app (idk what it is about Flatpack that devs don't like, but it seems like every app on there is unmaintained). Taproom provides straight forward "enough" downloads once you've signed in (even though the "Access Downloads" button on the homepage does nothing), but then there's also the package manager route which is the most direct, if most involved, way of getting the latest release.... ALL OF THAT and you STILL have to download the client through the app-portal you just downloaded which may or may not work depending on your Linux distro or Windows environment.

My hunch? Cider is primarily developed by frontend devs who are more concerned with working on what is interesting to them and their Discord server audience- aesthetics, and "nice to have" features like plugins and themes- which have bloated the program and resulted in a tonne of UI and API bugs, biting off more than they can chew as they struggle to maintain so many releases and various features.. Thus the app looks very "polished" yet feels terrible to setup and use- very much a small, community-driven project that masquerades as a more organized solution based on its appearance. This is exacerbated by Apple's capricious SDK and API's as they have no allegiance to any projects relying on the Apple Music Web kit. The popularity of the project forcing it to grow from one dev's side project to a larger, more time consuming task necessitating monetization to pay for their time, which always feels awkward for Open Source projects.

Alas, it still remains the most serviceable option for Apple Music on Linux, and so I'm still using it and supporting it.
I hope it gets better.

Been waiting for this lighting system! Got the holy foxy trinity of managix, crystal, and post processing FX! Can't wait to really put them to use in our HD game, you're saving me thousands of hours! Special thanks indeed, and to all wondering if you need this? BUY YOU FOOLS

(2 edits)

Well, I like it, I think it has potential! It's a neat little tool, and it is very pretty.
But there are FIVE things I'd NEED before using it practically on my projects:


1. Option to bring back the top Window Handle. There's no full screen, minimize, or close, buttons, and no place to grab, which makes grabbing the window to move it around or resizing it a hassle. I'd love to full screen the app and window it again without having to drag it out manually too. 


2. Sub Categories / Sub-Collections. This has been asked for already, but it would make a world of difference. I currently use an app called Things, which does this to organize my project lists and it is a must have feature. 

For example: Project -> Category -> Task.


3. Cloud sync and or Collaboration. I know this one may not be so easy to integrate, but working on a game or film is a team effort (most of the time) and if only one person can see the schedule it makes it kinda useless.


4. The animations... UHHHGGG! That is to say  they feel gratuitous and slow. Hovering to expand a progress bar and then hovering again and waiting a full second for the percentages to appear is maddening. I want to be able to see my projects "at a glance" and if I have to click and then hover to get the information I need then... well, it's unusable.


5. Easier way to delete items and collections. It just takes too long and is very obtuse... Double click (on text only!),  Hold backspace or press CMD + Return, Press enter again. It should be much simpler than that. Also every time I try to select text (Even when editing the title) it drags the window around instead, and it makes me wanna scream, lol. 


I apologize if this all sounds rather scathing, I really don't mean it to be, I think it's a clever little app, and well worth $5. But hopefully these changes can be made someday!


Some other notes: 

  • Icon to bring collection to top... its terrible.  It does not indicate what it does visually. The shape of the icon is four squares, which universally is perceived as something you can grab and move up or down. If that's not the case, it should be an arrow pointing up. And at that rate, make two arrows, one to move it up a level and one to move it down a level. This would increase usability when restructuring ten fold.
  • The button to add a new collection is just a bar at the top that looks like a collection is being cutoff. Visually it doesn't make sense, and again, it does not inform the user as to what it does, maybe just a plus button at the top that changes to "New Collection" when you hover over it.
  • The themes are pretty, but most of them are too low in contrast which makes readability a bit of a chore. The Frame.io and Discord ones are my favourite though.
  • Last but not least, there should be a keyboard short cut to make a new item! Or when you press enter and you've just made a new collection, pressing enter again should add an item.