Confusion caused by the "Windows App" download option
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- Java
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Description
In the past week I've had two different forum users reply to my recommendation to upgrade to the latest version of the Arduino IDE with "I can't because it requires Windows 10 and I'm using an older Windows version". The problem is they are clicking the "Windows App" link on the [Software page](https://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/Software), then once they get to the Windows Store it tells then that Windows 10 is required. Encountering two people who have this mistaken impression over such a short time span makes me suspect this is going to be a fairly common issue.
I have a couple of ideas on how to make this sort of confusion less likely:
- Remove the "Get" icon next to the the "Windows app" link. I think this is drawing their eye. The download links don't obviously appear as button, they're just some text that's not even colored in the standard link blue but that icon just begs to be clicked. I see no value to that icon, it just causes visual clutter.
- Change the text of the "Windows app" link to something like "Windows app (requires Windows 10)" and add some text to the standard Windows download links that says something like "Windows XP and newer".
The most recent occurrence of this issue:
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=485903.msg3317007#msg3317007
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=523068
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=526402.msg3590431#msg3590431
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=532732
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=547491
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=580286
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=598850
- http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=618327
- https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=628120.msg4264762#msg4264762
- https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=653383
- https://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=677329
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reviewing the Software page linked in the issue and the referenced forum reports to confirm how users interpret the Windows App option. Locate the page source that controls those download labels and icon treatments; done means the Windows version requirements and alternative downloads are unambiguous, with the page links still working.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Domain
- content
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100