Ask HN: How much detail should I give new users during onboarding?

I am launching a new macOS app that requires some computer experience for installation and the basic worfklow.

Does anyone have any experience about how complete and idiot-proof program instructions should be?

    SIMPLE+ENCOURAGING VS COMPLETE+INTIMIDATING

If the instructions are brief, the program looks simple, but some people will make mistakes.

If the instructions are complete, people won't get stuck, but suddenly the process looks really complicated, even though it's not.

I started out writing very complete documentation, but pages for even simple tasks got really long. Anyone glancing at them would assume that I'm describing something really difficult.

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    To give a couple of examples:

1. install the synch app normally and launch it

or:

1. open the DMG in one window

2. open your applications folder (cmd-shift-A) in a second window

3. drag the synch application into the app folder

4. double-click it to launch

The second option is more clear, but using this style everywhere makes a simple program look very complicated.

    Another example:

1. launch the synch program and start synching

2. design normally and click "save" in the tool panel

3. when you're done, stop synching

or:

1. find the sync program in your Applications and double-click to launch it

2. select your website and click "Synchronize"

3. open a file you'd like to modify

4. when you'd like to save, click "save" in the tool panel

5. when you're done, close the file you're working on

6. go back to the synch program and press "pause" to stop synching

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Sorry to be long-winded — that's kind of the point!

My inclination is to be brief, but even with very few users I have seen some really crazy behavior.

https://svija.love if you are curious.