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Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:20:26 -0500
Message-Id: <201212141820.qBEIKQDN005665@envy.delorie.com>
From: DJ Delorie <dj AT delorie DOT com>
To: geda-user AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <E5DE4486-B23F-4945-943A-F46C6E308B90@noqsi.com> (message from
	John Doty on Fri, 14 Dec 2012 11:03:56 -0700)
Subject: Re: [geda-user] Find rat lines
References: <20121204183305 DOT 6b04c0dc AT jive DOT levalinux DOT org> <20121208112649 DOT 388a9d22 AT jive DOT levalinux DOT org> <1355011808 DOT 19390 DOT 8 DOT camel AT localhost> <alpine DOT DEB DOT 2 DOT 00 DOT 1212090407031 DOT 26605 AT igor2priv> <1355188647 DOT 12937 DOT 14 DOT camel AT localhost> <A7B4EDBD-3704-4837-9350-A16559C60A2A AT noqsi DOT com> <201212140010 DOT qBE0ABjV023762 AT envy DOT delorie DOT com> <172CCAAB-0423-43EF-8A04-5A9961F1D5B9 AT noqsi DOT com> <201212140122 DOT qBE1MoKM019255 AT envy DOT delorie DOT com> <5AA18F19-2EA9-4E7D-9378-F768D8E1E5DD AT jump-ing DOT de> <alpine DOT DEB DOT 2 DOT 00 DOT 1212140501300 DOT 26605 AT igor2priv> <50CB5D82 DOT 8060507 AT jump-ing DOT de> <E5DE4486-B23F-4945-943A-F46C6E308B90 AT noqsi DOT com>
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> Consider that manual tagging is the simplest, least confusing, and
> most predictable option. It should therefore be the model for the
> primitive operation.

It's also the most expensive for the user, so goes against "the tool
should help you".  Consider a user who cuts and copies a subcircuit 15
times (I've done this, even scripted it).  Asking the user to re-tag
every single object in those pastes is a non-starter.

An ideal solution is something that can diagnose and locate shorts
most (or nearly all) of the time, without requiring the user to do
more overall work.

> Especially when learning the tool, the user needs manual control
> over what's going on.

I disagree.  IMHO the user should not have to do many extra steps
before they've learned what they're for.  Each step in the learning
process should have immediate feedback and reward.  The more steps
between each milestone, the steeper the learning curve.