Key Things in Developing Sidebar Gadgets
There’s tremendous number of websites out there that can teach you how to develop sidebar gadgets. Some of them are more popular over the others. Most tutorials teach you the step by step process of creating sidebar gadgets, but it usually lacks the part of teaching you how to create gadgets with the X-factor. If you want to learn the important things to note when developing sidebar gadgets, then you should read the following basic guidelines.
Design concepts
When considering what gadget to create, your primary concern would be its functionality that would be useful most of, if not, all the time. Sidebar gadgets should be useful every time a person uses the computer, otherwise it would just be a waste of space in the desktop.
Sidebar gadgets must be easily accessible yet not distracting. Computer users must be focused on doing their main tasks. When they do need information from a gadget, they must remember where to find it on the desktop through motor and visual memory and access it easily when needed.
A gadget must be able to do a single task very well. No need for additional functionalities since these may just clutter the gadget’s UI. You should use gadgets that perform one task then combine them all into one because this gives the user freedom to choose which functionality he can use.
A sidebar gadget must have a visual theme that signifies their task or functionality. If your gadget is a currency converter, it can have a background image of a world map with some bills and coins. Visual theme is important because it makes it easy for users to remember the functionality of their gadgets.
States
Consider having two or more states for your gadgets that provide simple and complex information. Use the docked state as default for displaying simple information and use the floating state for displaying more information.
Sidebar gadgets must retain their state across different sessions. A gadget must retain the same information or selections that a user has recently used so that when the user comes back to use the gadget again, he or she doesn’t have to change it back the last time he or she used it. This is more important in gadgets like puzzles or crossword games.