{"id":7029124,"date":"2026-08-05T21:39:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/apple-2\/superduper-4s-radical-new-interface-explains-itself-as-you-use-it\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T21:39:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T21:39:11","slug":"superduper-4s-radical-new-interface-explains-itself-as-you-use-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=7029124","title":{"rendered":"SuperDuper 4\u2019s Radical New Interface Explains Itself as You Use It"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Shirt Pocket\u2019s SuperDuper has been one of the Mac world\u2019s go-to backup apps for decades, winning Macworld\u2019s Eddy Awards in 2005 and 2006. Throughout that time, developer Bruce Lacey maintained a laser focus on simplicity, speed, and reliability, while Shirt Pocket founder Dave Nanian contributed the interface. That interface hasn\u2019t changed in I don\u2019t know how long, and as a result, it looks a little dated.<\/p>\n

\"SuperDuper<\/a><\/p>\n

Bruce Lacey is now enjoying a well-earned retirement, so Dave Nanian has taken over all development on SuperDuper, using the transition as an excuse to rethink SuperDuper\u2019s interface from the ground up and create the interface he has been dreaming about for years. There are a few other features that I\u2019ll describe shortly, but I\u2019m intrigued by the new interface. The screenshot below shows the equivalent of the old setup above.<\/p>\n

\"SuperDuper<\/a><\/p>\n

SuperDuper\u2019s New Interface<\/h2>\n

But let\u2019s start at the beginning. In interface design, we often talk about the tension between form and function: is it attractive, and does making it more so make it easier or harder to use? SuperDuper 4<\/a> is a good-looking app, but what makes it easier to use is its integration of context-specific documentation into the interface. It\u2019s constantly telling you what it\u2019s going to do or what it has done, in plain English. (It\u2019s English-only; Nanian doesn\u2019t want a localized interface to imply he could provide support in other languages.)<\/p>\n

The cumulative effect of all of SuperDuper\u2019s text is that the user constantly feels grounded\u2014there are no surprises because everything has been explained up front. It\u2019s highly effective, at least for people who aren\u2019t intimidated by text. Let\u2019s walk through it so you can see what I mean.<\/p>\n

To create a \u201ccopy job,\u201d as SuperDuper calls it, you select the source in the sidebar. SuperDuper displays an introductory tile explaining what you can do with it. What may not be obvious is that the buttons in the text are live\u2014clicking Add Copy Job in the middle of the text is equivalent to clicking the same button at the top of the window, and clicking one of the example Add This Copy Job buttons gives you a configured copy job. Clever.<\/p>\n

\"SuperDuper<\/a><\/p>\n

If you click Add This Copy Job for the Nightly Backup example, SuperDuper replaces the intro tile with a copy job tile that talks you through the rest of the configuration. It tells you to click \u201cyour selected destination\u201d below and even displays animated stars to encourage you to click. (It\u2019s the only place you\u2019ll see the stars; they\u2019re delightful once, but would get old quickly if they were scattered throughout the interface.) When you click, a popover lets you pick a destination drive.<\/p>\n

\"SuperDuper<\/a><\/p>\n

And\u2026 that could be it, because you started from the example that specified using the \u201cBackup \u2013 all files\u201d copy rule and the Smart Update comparison. It\u2019s set to run at 11 PM every weeknight, and not do anything on success.<\/p>\n

\"SuperDuper<\/a><\/p>\n

Where the interface really shines is when it comes time to change those defaults, or set them from scratch if you started by clicking Add Copy Job instead of working from the example. In each case, you click the bold, blue, underlined text and choose from a popover or dialog. There are five more options:<\/p>\n