Ask HN: Why do apps hide their primary use case?
Help me save my links.
So, I had just copied a link.
And I thought... let me install Pocket real quick and save this link.
After installing the Android app, I saw lots of buttons and UI elements.
None of which helped me save my link.
The app readily showed me how to add a friend...
Something that never even crossed my mind as a primary use case.
I saw how to look at my historical feed.
I thought. Ok. Sure, that will be useful one day.
But, all I wanted to do at this moment is save my link that is already on my clipboard.
After 45 seconds of fiddling, nothing...
Immediately, I uninstalled the app.
When an app can't do its main use case well, I'm done with it.
It's so frustrating to waste time on something that seems like it should be so simple.
And, this is not the first time I've experienced this.
It's a very common experience. .
How is it that so many popular apps forget to put their one primary use case front and center?
It's just mind boggling.
I've always felt, one reason Instagram was so successful, is their workflow to post a picture was simple.
And consuming pictures via infinite scroll was natural.
Its two use cases were front and center, and well optimized.
As a software developer, I just can't understand.
Why is this so hard for our industry to get right? ...When so much extra money can be made by just providing a simple workflow for your primary use case!?!?