Web Software Has Raised the Bar

What makes a good software application? Perhaps it’s a full feature set, or maybe it’s an easy-to-use interface. Or maybe it’s full-text search, just like Google. Over time, what constitutes “good software” has been redefined by the vast array of Web-based applications. So argues Jeff Atwood in his recent Coding Horror post, where he makes the case that we now judge the merits of software against what is available online:

Having this pervasive, instantly accessible world of reasonably good software available through your browser-- and it’s only one tiny click away—is like pouring salt in the user’s wounds. It’s impossible to justify the pain of badly written internal software when there’s a universe of better choices practically beating down your door, even on locked down corporate desktops.

I hate to say it, but this isn’t good news for the traditional corporate IT shop. Now many users have access to more power and knowledge through their Web browser than they can get from the software tools that their own technical staff can build for them. We have heard for many years that the consumer is king, largely due to the information the Internet has placed in the hands of the average person. The Internet has raised the bar in the corporate software space as well, placing more power in the hands of the users. Employees expect more and better software to get their jobs done, because they can already see it and use it online right now.