Why do Bitcoin wallet GUI's look so basic?

[Jushe]

I don't get why there isn't much improvement on Bitcoin wallet GUI's. They all look so basic and old. Whats stopping them from getting a makeover?

[cjmoles]

I don't think anything's stopping bitcoin's wallet from getting a make over accept interest.  It's an open source project isn't it?  Give it a shot!  Pretty up your wallet the way you like, show us what you come up with, and maybe it will catch on.

[SFR10]

Which wallet GUI your referring to? If blockchain.info then IIRC, some that have upgraded to the new version, stated some changes in terms of it's look but from what I've noticed, wallets GUI isn't that important as long as their functionality is what it's supposed to be so can't really see it as a priority to any wallet provider.

[Amph]

Which wallet GUI your referring to? If blockchain.info then IIRC, some that have upgraded to the new version, stated some changes in terms of it's look but from what I've noticed, wallets GUI isn't that important as long as their functionality is what it's supposed to be so can't really see it as a priority to any wallet provider.

i think he is talking about core, i do agree that a modern restyle may put average joes, on a better position about running it on their machine, but it's not prioritary now

[mkc]

I don't get why there isn't much improvement on Bitcoin wallet GUI's. They all look so basic and old. Whats stopping them from getting a makeover?

Are you talking about Bitcoin-qt?
The interface has been the same for years. What is your vision that it should be?

[RoommateAgreement]

maybe it is because developers (and programmers in general) don't care about user interface since they don't use it that much themselves.

so i think if you have any suggestions you should submit it that way as a suggestion to improve the GUI

[OmegaStarScream]

As far as I know you can submit as many requests as you want but they won't change it , I'm not sure where I read that but they are keeping this basic User interface because it was the original made by Satoshi . It's not that they can't , It's just that they don't want to.

[Za1n]

I like the fact that is is fairly basic. Think about what it does, it is simply an interface for you to send and receive coins from your private keys. The more features the wallet has the more it deviates from this basic function and the more things that can go wrong.

[merelcoin]

I'd have to agree that the wallet is indeed a bit dated, but it serves it's purpose. I don't think there's enough community intrest to change a fully working tool just because it looks a bit dated.
You can do anything you need to do with bitcoin core, and if you don't like it, i find multibit HD having a nice gui (altough it's not completely free).

[RoommateAgreement]

I'd have to agree that the wallet is indeed a bit dated, but it serves it's purpose. I don't think there's enough community intrest to change a fully working tool just because it looks a bit dated.
You can do anything you need to do with bitcoin core, and if you don't like it, i find multibit HD having a nice gui (altough it's not completely free).

it became free with the latest update, but it is too late if you ask me. they did a wrong thing forcing people to pay them fees for using their wallet while there are better wallets like Electrum available for free.
#damageisdone

[cjmoles]

As far as I know you can submit as many requests as you want but they won't change it , I'm not sure where I read that but they are keeping this basic User interface because it was the original made by Satoshi . It's not that they can't , It's just that they don't want to.

Why would they change it?  That's not their priority; isn't their priority the protocol?  I don't see any reason why an open source project can't be prettied up by the community as long as the protocol remained intact.  Sure, we don't have commit privileges with github but what's to stop us from prettying it up individually and sharing?  Am I missing something here?

[BitHodler]

If you are referring to Bitcoin Core then it indeed looks very basic but right now the only thing that matters to me is that it is doing its work without any problems.

And that it does, so for me a basic looking wallet GUI isn't that big of a deal.

If they at some point decide to give the GUI a fresh and more colorful upgrade then it's fine but if it doesn't happen any time soon then it's fine too with me.

[odolvlobo]

I don't get why there isn't much improvement on Bitcoin wallet GUI's. They all look so basic and old. Whats stopping them from getting a makeover?

Have you seen Airbitz? You might like its look.

[Jasad]

I don't get why there isn't much improvement on Bitcoin wallet GUI's. They all look so basic and old. Whats stopping them from getting a makeover?

what you need?bitcoin wallet with not GUI layout and just like coinbase or blockcahin?its not good and not calssic as bitcoin,and i'm sure people will more lika bitcoin wallet with GUI layout.

[calkob]

I think peopele are more concerned that thier wallet is safe and secure, but yes i get what you mean, i think as more people get into bitcoin then we will see a push for better GUI

[Monnt]

The main desktop wallets, like bitcoin core and electrum do look half-baked. But their developers care about the functionality, not the look. Their apps are targeted at most bitcoin users, already tech-savvy people. I run my electrum through command line, so there.

If you want, use copay, greenaddress or coinbase.

[merelcoin]

I'd have to agree that the wallet is indeed a bit dated, but it serves it's purpose. I don't think there's enough community intrest to change a fully working tool just because it looks a bit dated.
You can do anything you need to do with bitcoin core, and if you don't like it, i find multibit HD having a nice gui (altough it's not completely free).

it became free with the latest update, but it is too late if you ask me. they did a wrong thing forcing people to pay them fees for using their wallet while there are better wallets like Electrum available for free.
#damageisdone

I actually had no idear they stopped charging a fee per transaction... But in my opinion, multibit HD is one of the nicest looking wallets around.
The main thing about this topic: bitcoin is open source, the developers made a fully functional wallet, that supported about anything you could do with the bitcoin protocol, however, they didn't spend a lot of time in making the gui looking fresh, or updating the gui's looks.
But since it's open source, others have filled the gap, so everybody is free to chose his or her own wallet. If you stick to bitcoin core's qt wallet, you have a functional wallet with a dated look, if you chose for an other open or closed source wallet, you might have to pay a bit of money, or lose some functionality in order to get a nice GUI, each to his own

[rinhunter]

So far rarely questioned GUI, during it safe and still working well, for me it did not matter.
Maybe if you feel uncomfortable you can use another wallet to store Bitcoin.

[JosNekoKopa]

i think he is talking about core, i do agree that a modern restyle may put average joes, on a better position about running it on their machine, but it's not prioritary now

It is not priority? ok but more pleasant looks could have better user experience, and i don't think they would take much effort, if average altcoins can have better looking wallet then we could have a problem in the future.

[Jushe]

Which wallet GUI your referring to? If blockchain.info then IIRC, some that have upgraded to the new version, stated some changes in terms of it's look but from what I've noticed, wallets GUI isn't that important as long as their functionality is what it's supposed to be so can't really see it as a priority to any wallet provider.

I was refering to Electrum and Core mostly. I get that the GUI isn't that important but shouldn't it have improved somewhat by now?