Why do so many plugin devs still use fixed UI scaling (presets) instead of resizable corners?

[enCiphered]

I've noticed that a lot of plugin developers still rely on fixed percentage-based UI scaling like 75%, 100%, 125%, etc.. usually hidden in a dropdown menu, where you have to dig in just to scale the interface to your liking.

But from a usability standpoint, there’s a clearly better alternative, the simple handle or grip in the lower-right corner that lets you freely resize the plugin window just like a regular app window. You just grab the corner and scale it to exactly the size you want, without predefined steps or menu diving.

I'm genuinely curious: why isn’t this approach more common? Is it a limitation of older GUI frameworks? Does it have to do with bitmap-based UIs versus vector graphics? Or is it just a legacy design choice that hasn't been prioritized?

[pekbro]

Some use raster graphics instead of vector, so you need to have complete sets for every individual scale, e.g. there are no versions
for anything outside the allotted scales, dragging corners creates scales outside of those ranges. You can set it to scale incrementally, tho most don’t bother and just use the menu.

Anyway, not always, but mostly that’s why.
If you try to scale raster graphics, they look like crap.

[eLawnMust]

Some older hosts crash right out tryin' to use scalable bullshit... Best to make GUIs non-scalable & make them as small as possible or just GUI-Less with nuthin' but sliders or knobs it's about music not graphics>>>

[enCiphered]

Some older hosts crash right out tryin' to use scalable bullshit... Best to make GUIs non-scalable & make them as small as possible or just GUI-Less with nuthin' but sliders or knobs it's about music not graphics>>>

So you're telling me the ideal modern plugin UI is… no UI? Just sliders, knobs and maybe a command-line interface?
I get it, some ancient hosts apparently implode if they see a scalable UI. Maybe they also crash if you press Ctrl+Z too fast or sneeze near the audio engine. But should we really use plugin UI´s designed like it's still 2003 just to protect a few haunted DAW installs running on beige PCs in the back of someone’s attic?

[enCiphered]

Some use raster graphics instead of vector, so you need to have complete sets for every individual scale, e.g. there are no versions
for anything outside the allotted scales, dragging corners creates scales outside of those ranges. You can set it to scale incrementally, tho most don’t bother and just use the menu.

Anyway, not always, but mostly that’s why.
If you try to scale raster graphics, they look like crap.

Yeah, that was my first thought too.

[carambo]

Because it's another league in term of complexity of coding, and it will not work on all OS / DAW / VST3 / AU / etc...combinations

[pekbro]

Well, most frameworks are set up for vector drawing already, it’s more work probably, I
think devs that use raster, do so for a reason,
typically they are after a particular look or
quality.

If it doesn’t work on every platform these days, it’s more likely not the best engineering than anything else.

Making vectors look as good as raster would
certainly increase complexity, but most don’t
do that really, save a few choice devs.

[lfm]

I got an update on AddictiveDrums 2 that were now vectorized.
- I asked how to reverse since I felt GUI were not sharp any longer
- so I got my old GUI back in this case

My eyes hurt with vectorized since not sharp with shadows and stuff. It's like having a blurred photo in front of you. They remove that 3D look a lot not having to do shadows and hilights on panels anymore. I think it's the same reason windows looks worse nowadays, just big blobs with washed out panels. No 3D stuff just about anywhere.

So I prefer a couple of nicely made fixed zoom choices with 3D looks and all.

I think new Samp ProX9 will have some hidpi stuff, probably vectorized, not sure.
- I think new Sonar is to have vectorized gui, but have not seen it

I put a screen shot with AddictiveDrums new look and Sonar in background and you see how blurry it looks. Rightclick and view full size in another tab.

[Nathanananan]

If Native Instruments had any scaling at all I would be happy with them. With their older plugins you almost need a magnifying glass.

[MrJubbly]

Some older hosts crash right out tryin' to use scalable bullshit... Best to make GUIs non-scalable & make them as small as possible or just GUI-Less with nuthin' but sliders or knobs it's about music not graphics>>>

Look at you with your fancy pants sliders and knob bullshit... Best to just use text input, not via keyboard, but by hand-written score notation via quill, ink pot and papyrus.

You kids, with your graphic user interfaces. It's about music not graphics

[jamcat]

Some older hosts crash right out tryin' to use scalable bullshit... Best to make GUIs non-scalable & make them as small as possible or just GUI-Less with nuthin' but sliders or knobs it's about music not graphics>>>

Only a foolish dev worries about what older hosts do. Anyone who won’t spend money to upgrade an old crashy DAW also won’t spend money on new plugins. Smart devs focus on people who are actual paying customers. And those people want modern resizable GUIs.

[Amberience]

The positioning and scaling maths can be a little tricky, and if you want to get something out quickly, it is often better to off-load the scaleability work to the designer, and build the plugin with much simpler logic. Realtime adjustable scaling is an amount of work extra that I suspect a lot of developers don't want to do; or don't have the time to do.

[jamcat]

It’s just a checkbox in JUCE

[SebAV]

Some older hosts crash right out tryin' to use scalable bullshit... Best to make GUIs non-scalable & make them as small as possible or just GUI-Less with nuthin' but sliders or knobs it's about music not graphics>>>

Like ReBirth ?