Inky : Internet keywords with user feedback

Abstract

The web today is accessed primarily through graphical user interfaces although some of its functionality can be more efficiently invoked through a command line interface. This thesis presents Inky, a sloppy command line for the web. This interface accepts commands that may be out of order, have missing arguments, contain synonyms or is otherwise sloppy and determines possible interpretations. It then presents these interpretations to the user, who can then pick one to execute. The interpretations are presented to the user as she types, providing responsive feedback on the state of the system. Inky uses specification files that indicate how to recognize a type or function in a command, how to display it to the user, and how to translate it into code. It also contains an interaction window and a keyword engine that determines the completions. This thesis argues that this interaction style is better for some functionality than the standard website interface. It also explores whether the sloppiness and feedback are useful in counteracting the negative effects of traditional command line interfaces.