Tips in Developing Sidebar Gadgets
Have you ever wondered how developers create excellent and elegant sidebar gadgets? Or are you a professional programmer or developer and wants to add more spice to your sidebar gadgets? Then what you need is a set of guidelines for you to have the knowledge and basic tips in order to create interesting and beautiful sidebar gadgets. The following are some of the basic tips you’ll ever need to make that sidebar gadget that you have been wishing for a long time.
Usage patterns
Before you start coding the JavaScript of your sidebar gadget, you must first classify the type of gadget that you want to create. There are various patterns of sidebar gadgets and these are just few of the following: information gadgets, utility gadgets, fun gadgets and system information gadgets. Without knowing the particular type of gadget that you want to create, you’ll be at lost in making the UI design since not all design patterns are applicable to a particular use of the gadget.
Interaction
You must use the standard Window behavior of pointers in sidebar gadgets. If your mouse hovers on a link then the cursor must switch to the hand-pointer. You must also not allow automatic resizing of the gadget because this really annoys a lot of computer users. Instead, let the gadget be resized by clicking.
Don’t display error messages through a dialog box because this is quite typical only in programs or applications and this can also cause panic to the computer user. Instead, you should show it through a simple message displayed in the gadget or by changing the state or color of the gadget.
Options dialog boxes
You should only use dialog boxes for displaying options only if needed. Options include design and functionality customization of the gadget, such as adding and removing necessary contents. You may also try direct changes on the gadget itself like using a drag-and-drop mechanism or switching the text into a dialog box to display the selection list.
Sizing
There is no maximum height or width for docked gadgets but it would be best that they use the space efficiently to allow more gadgets in the sidebar. More importantly, gadgets can’t be too big if it is just displaying a small amount of information. Remember that gadgets need to be compact too.