This document discusses user experience (UX) in the context of Xtext and diagram editors. It outlines some of the key ingredients of good UX, like usability and consistency. When using diagram frameworks with Xtext, quirks can arise which impact the UX. However, by taking control over UX with tools like FXDiagram, these quirks can be avoided and the user experience improved. The document promotes UX as important for why users like products and advocates taking back control over UX.

1. Xtext, !
Diagrams !
and UX
Jan Köhnlein - itemis

2. User eXperience
a person's perceptions and responses
that result from the use of
a product, system or service.
It is very emotional
and quite subjective.

3. Good UX
is the reason why
people like a product.

4. Ingredients of UX
• Usability
• Response time
• Consistency
• but most of all…

5. No Quirks!

6. Surprise: „Not what I expected“
Impediment: „I cannot do that“
Damage: „I am losing data“

7. Language IDE Framework

8. User eXperience of Xtext
• Consistent set of IDE features
• Good integration with Eclipse
• Reasonable response times
Good!
UX
• You can customize almost everything

9. Xtext
+ Diagram Editor
= Quirks

10. Linking
Element name!
Scopes!
Rename refactoring
Xtext
Element ID!
Direct X-ref!
Rename element
Diagram
Editor

11. Direct Editor Sync
Objects are modified!
EMF Transaction
Objects are replaced !
IXtextDocument
Diagram
Editor
Xtext

12. Saving Models
Valid!
Models
Saveable!
in XMI
Diagram
Editor
Saveable!
in Xtext
Xtext

13. Bi-Directional Mapping
TreeNode
children
*
Diagram
nodes * * edges
Node Edge
node A {
node B
node C
}
A
B C
Diagram {
Node A
Node B
Node C
Edge(A,B)
Edge(A,C
}

14. Bi-Directional Mapping
Diagram
Editor
Uni
Xtext
Editor
View

15. Quirks From Using
Diagram Frameworks

16. „Usability is already addressed
by the framework“

17. „Design is overrated“

18. Developer Centrism
Abstract
everything !
Maximium # of
features
More models ! Solve the generic
use case!
Integrate
every framework in the
word !
private, final, ..

19. Diagram frameworks
prevent you from taking
control over the UX.

20. Diagram Tool UX
• flawless, modern graphics
• smooth transitions
• self-explaining, haptic behavior
• multi-touch gestures, transparency

22. +

23. +

24. FXDiagram

25. FXDiagram
https://github.com/JanKoehnlein/FXDiagram
Oomph!

26. UX is why people like
your product.

27. Take back control
over UX.

28. And get rid of the
Quirks!

29. XRobots
XRobots
Program your robot in a web browser. Teach it sumo wrestling.!
Challenge others and watch the show at the itemis booth.
join the game at
xrobots.itemis.de