When I first read this, I had some mild qualms with the software as it seemed to assume that all software is intended to assist in interactions or social stuff. (When I think about software, I think about art software, and how that kind of software can unlock potential for self-expression.)
But as I’m getting frustrated with my own CMS and the difficulty of setting my new site up, I’m beginning to think this approach to thinking about software design is correct for the vast majority of stuff.
And if you think about it, this idea is almost the complete antithesis to ecosystems like Linux, which consists of lots more software than what would be necessary on other operating systems. Furthermore, it seems to be all built under the assumption that you want to go in-depth and wield each piece of software like a power-user, making it simply harder to use for most tasks. Perhaps that article managed to articulate a growing feeling of mine about software.
Actually, I shared it despite the fact that I rather disagree with the premise. Games are a perfect example of software that we buy for the experience. Software is not merely utilitarian, and we can and should delight in good software. The problem is not UX researchers who are tracking usability metrics. The problem is bad design.
Games are another great example, I forgot about that too!