StyleGuides

A style guide is created to ensure all applications look and behave the same. The strongest rule of usability is always that the thing the user knows, is easy to do again. Or in other words; Consistency.

Consistency does not happen by copying the way other applications look. Many points are too subtle, and a 3th grade copy always has deminished in quality, even if it is a little. The 'meter' among the user interfaces are Style guides.

• Java Look and Feel Design Guidelines java.sun.com
• Java Look and Feel Design Guidelines Advanced Topics java.sun.com
• Design specifications Guidelines: msdn.microsoft.com
• KDE standard styleguide developer.kde.org
• Gnome Human Interface Guidelines v1.0 developer.gnome.org
• Aqua Human Interface Guidelines apple.com/developer