Notes on Software defaults

The defaults define the experience for everyone out of the box.

Configuration is a drag, not a desire.

An interesting topic for sure and it definitely puts it into a perspective I haven't thought much.

As a user, I like to go with the defaults and adapt as they change. I found it easier for most of the apps as what can be configured and how that affects existing customization usually changes over time. If I have a very specific way of using the app then I become more sensitive to these changes (relevant XKCD).

Defaults aren't just about nailing The Golden Path, it's also about choosing one. What experience do we want people to have? What opinions do we want to carve into the product? It's not just what we're trying to do, it's what we're trying to say.