I already did an episode on UI changes, but I hate this so much that it requires a second part.  The hate cannot be contained.

You know what really grinds my gears?  Unnecessary software UI changes.  Now, I realize that software needs to be updated and maintained.  I get that, and that's fine.  I also realize that sometimes UI changes are necessary and good.  I get that, and that's fine.  I still hate dealing with the changes, but I do in fact deal with it.  But what I can't f*cking stand is when devs just randomly shuffle around UI elements for no f*cking reason whatsoever.  And sometimes it really is for no Celestia-dammed reason, too.  So often you update something like a web browser, and this options menu that used to be on the left side of the screen is now over there on the right side of the screen, and this feature that used to under "tools" is now under "edit" or something.  It's not better, it's not more convenient--it's just different.  WHY?!  Why shuffle things around like that?  Sometimes they put out updates for no other purpose but to take the features that you know where they are and just move them somewhere the f*ck else so you have to relearn it.  WHY?!  WHY??!! 

Now, I'll admit that sometimes UIs are actually bad and need changes, and sometimes the changes are good and warranted, but that's not what I'm talking about.  I'm talking about some basic, simple thing like a polished web browser that's perfect, convenient, and works fine, and they just shuffle it around for no reason.  F*ck that sh*t.

I've heard smart people explain the psychology of these sorts of changes.  They explained that software developers or other such companies intentionally make these sorts of changes because it's believed that stagnation will drive people away.  The psychology ostensibly goes like this: change too much too fast, and you'll scare users/customers away and they'll move on to something else, but never change anything and users/customers will grow bored and move on to something else.  I'm calling mostly bullsh*t on the latter part.  Adding new features is usually fine, but f*cking around with what works is not.  People don't grow bored of software that works and does exactly what they want it to just because the UI stays the same.  If you're using some sort of productivity software, like a photo editor, you don't get bored and dump it just because the buttons stayed put.  That's just not a thing that happens.  That's not why people switch software.  They switch because the other program does something they need which they're current program can't.  They don't switch because they're bored of knowing exactly where the buttons and menus are, and they just feeling like shuffling things up so their brain has to work harder to relearn where all the basic functions are.

Consider this example: imagine that Microsoft Windows today looked exactly as it did in '95.  Just the UI, not the backend.  It's still Windows XP, 7, 10, 11, whatever.  But the UI looks like '95 and never changed, apart from just adding more features and upscaling the resolution.  Do you think that all Windows users would have grown bored and switched to Mac or Linux just to shuffle up the appearance?  I seriously doubt it.  That's not why people switch OSes.  As someone who switched from Windows to Linux a couple years ago, I can tell you exactly why people switch to Linux: it's because they want a free, open-source alternative, and they want complete ownership, freedom, and control over their OS.  It's not out of UI boredom.  And if Linux users decide to buy a new Windows OS, it's because they want native compatibility for all new games.  Period.  It's not because they want a different UI.

Now, I'm not saying that Windows '95 is the best UI and they should have stuck with it forever (I'd actually say that was 7, personally), but what I am saying is that people don't get bored of software because your button and menu layout doesn't change.  What matters is that the software works well and does everything you want it to do.  I'd be willing to bet that not a single person in the history of the world ever dumped a piece of software that was convenient, great performing, and did everything they wanted it to do for the sole reason that they got bored of an unchanging UI.  And just to be clear, you can improve the functionality of UI without changing where everything is.  Big difference.  What I'm complaining about is specifically shuffling around the layout of everything so that you have to relearn where everything is.

I don't believe that psychology thing, but I think that many companies do, and they often put out updates that literally do nothing but give already perfect UIs a "facelift", which does nothing but make your life a lot more inconvenient.  Anytime a developer pulls this sh*t, I want to sneak into their house while they're asleep and completely rearrange everything.  Move every piece of furniture, move every single item in every single drawer and cupboard, put the dishes in the bathroom, put the toothpaste and shampoo in the refrigerator, put their underwear drawer in the garage, etc.  See how the f*ck they like it.

Celestia f*cking dammit I hate unnecessary UI changes.

And that's all I have to say about that.