The kind of company I want to be a part of…

builds something I’m proud to sign my name on. Actually makes a difference in peoples’ lives. Has smart, humble coworker(s).

But most of all, cares enough to not do (s).
5 item(s) loading.
Uploading 3 image(s).
1 user(s) added.
15 minute(s) remaining.

To me, software should feel like an extension of the user.
Talk to me like I’m used to. Be familiar, be approachable. I want to feel like you care about helping me. Not “me” as in “all the prospective 99,99,999 users”, but “me” specifically.

Why then do you want to make me feel like you threw me into a cookie-cutter template? A cold, hard reminder that this is clunky, soulless machinery removed from my world?

Why would you go through all the pain of understanding my palette, figuring out the breakfast I love, making the fluffiest pancakes in the world, garnishing it exactly the way I like it…but then decide to serve it with a straw?!

How did it go through every function in your company, and nobody cared?

You know how many items are loading.
You know if it’s exactly 1.

(minutes == 1) ? "minute" : "minutes"

I get it, it’s more code. Too trivial. It’s extra work if you support internationalization.
It’s okay.
But you can’t have your UI disrespecting the thoughtful engineering you have under the hood. All your user research. All your A/B testing.
Trust me, people notice.
So please, just write it.

Am I overreacting? Maybe.
But if I’m part of the org, I’m signing my name on it - and I care too much!