Extras and Add-on Naming (and more): What's Your Take?

Over on Twitter today I asked via the @modxcms account if people might want to provide name suggestions for the new MODX Blog Add-on, currently named modBlog and available soon.

This prompted @lossendae, @MarkHamstra, @AdamWintle, @ChristianSeel and others to suggest the use of more direct and obvious names for add-ons and extras.

As an example, it was suggested that a more obvious name for Quip, the de facto commenting add-on, would be something like Comments or that Wayfinder be renamed Menus. Thus something like Articles or Blog would be the obvious choice for the new modBlog vs. some unique name.

Lossendae pointed out it was easier for noobs to locate add-ons based on the type of addon it was (although to me this is a failure of search and not of the name of the tool) but also pointed out that for people whose first language is not English, using words that didn't directly translate added another layer of difficulty.

It seemed that a number of folks would sure love to see it be easier for new users to quickly determine what tool will handle these common use cases in their sites.

We're keen to hear what you have to say on this matter and related thoughts on naming Extras, Sponsored Extras, Extras built by the core team and strategies for managing/adopting Extras. Please share your thoughts and ideas.

Thanks,

Jay

A major issue for me with "obvious" names is how much it drastically reduces the effectiveness of searching for information for the add-on. Googling "MODX Quip sorting" will produce much more precise results than "MODX Comments sorting". The latter search would bring in all sorts of unrelated results because the word "Comments" is so common.

Since search engines are a major step in troubleshooting for me renaming to obvious names would be a big loss of time.

Aside: There are some "search problems" within the Package Manager. Search for "get" will not find "getResources" and I think that searching for "tiny" also did not present "TinyMCE".

I somehow like generic names, but they also have this "not open for the future" because on day someone will write a even cooler extension or is it called "extra" or "package"?) and name it, for example "menu extended" or "menu reloaded" ir what do I know. Good thing about this is that everybody still knows that is "does domething with menus", so the name works. But then again, the battle for name extensions is on. On the otherhand: "Suckerfish" was quite popular and was like a mini brandname. Tough decision, this naming thing. Just like naming a baby.

Oliver

It seems that one of the challenges people are attempting to overcome is locating and searching addons based on function. This could be further accomplished by categories and tags along with better descriptions. Core addons might be futher distinguished via a special label.

@lukemcd: I had some problems googling infos on Apple's programm "Color". Names like "TextMate" are cool because they are unique and tell you what they do.

Oliver

@mindeffects,

You're right about the search but the naming isn't the problem there it is the search that fails because it's not searching and weighting search correctly. That's a UX issue not a branding/naming issue per se.

That being said using the business name formula of unique element + category or a variation of that might work. So it Could be 'Quip Comments' or 'Wayfinder Menubuilder' or something similar.

@Jay: Right, it is a search problem because searching for parts of names does not work. I iften only remember something of the name like "tiny", but the search often fails to present my the thing I ment to search for.

I really like the "name + category" idea of yours. "Quip Comments" is a winner - and if peppke shorten it to just "Quip" it will still found by a noob on the search.

I always liked the MODX approach where Extras would have a unique brand. Although in most cases there is only one Extra who does a certain task, it's a nice concept that you might have several Extras competing to be the best commenting/antispam/menu addon. We shouldn't treat specific Extras as if they are the only official way f doing things. What f someday somebody comes up with a much better news extra? This, plus the search argument, makes me arguing for the unique branding approach!

Name it "dailyPlanet" or "Currently" or whatever.

Cool name are a part of the legacy of MODx but as Jay pointed out in his first comment, it's also a drawback when seeking simplicity.

For example, when i have to present MODx to fellow programmers, i "always" have to explain them why do Quip and Wayfinder are not called Comments and Menus.
It also means that without asking questions, they might have a greater chance to have to ask for it.
In France for example, Quip and Wayfinder will never ever ring any bell.

Imagine that, as beginners, there are close to no documentation in French, there is the need to learn lots of new concepts even in html (the modx tags are not that easy), the need to explain that they are going to work with the database instead of files, and add that they need to guess what is what because name are not obvious.

Time is money, they want a tool to gain time, not feel like babies without a chaperon to explain each and everything.

Aside from that, when they install more mature product like Drupal, and go to the module page, when they search for Comments, there is "Comments" the module.
If they type "Comments for drupal" they will not lose their way either.
Add to this that Drupal is more point & click than MODx, they literally feels that MODx will not help them gain time (and they are obviously wrong).

It feels easier and reassuring to have common name when trying a new tool.

When searching for a Gallery module for Revo, there is Gallery, it's simple, efficient and self explanatory even for non english people.

Quip does not. Jot did not.
I remember i struggled for minutes searching for a comment plugin (newbie word) for modx.

As for new cooler extra, most of contributors are huge OS supporters and in most case are thrilled to contribute to core cupported add ons (as proposal or asked by the team).
The team can be pro-active and ask to use part (or all) of the code, the author can be pro-active and given the success (if proven) can ask the team to use some part of its work.
In the end "Comment Extended For Real 3rd edition" will always talk more to me than "Quip".

Core add ons should seek simplicity and easy recognition.
3rd party add ons can use cooler name.
There are very little chance that someone come with a cooler addon...
Wayfinder is present since Evolution, nobody's ever came with a cooler/better solution.
Wayfinder is a de facto standard for MODx for building menu.

MODx is a unique brand.
But i honestly don't see the need of unique brand for core team supported 3rd party components that are standard de facto (When using Revo, check the most popular add on list...)

I'm all for unique, yet easy and descriptive names... don't have to be mutually exclusive

modBlog or Articles would be my fav names for the blog extra coming up, tho googling for "modx articles" probably isn't the best term to use on Google...