Parts, Tools, and Library Design in Playbook
AI Summary
This labnote details the design of a tool-library system for Playbook, an interactive canvas application. It categorizes interactions into dynamic tools (tracking pen movement) and tap tools (instant actions). The system utilizes a radial menu triggered by stylus gestures, allowing for rapid switching. The architecture treats tools as 'parts'—transcluded notebook pages—enabling users to customize their toolset by editing the notebook itself. It also explores hierarchical navigation (entering/exiting parts) and visibility properties for managing complex scene graphs.
Key Takeaways
- Tools are implemented as either dynamic (tracking pen events) or tap (single action) types.
- The radial menu design optimizes for speed by allowing gesture-based selection without moving the hand.
- Treating tools as 'parts' allows for a highly customizable, user-editable interface.
Why it matters
It demonstrates a novel approach to UI design where application state and tool definitions are exposed to the user as editable content, bridging the gap between user-space and system-space.
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