Dear KNIME Team,
I have been a long-time user of KNIME and have grown accustomed to the interface of previous versions. In the new version, I sometimes find myself spending extra time locating certain features in the nodes. While there is an option to choose between the old and new versions for the main interface, I would appreciate a similar option for node interfaces as well.
Currently, some nodes work with the new interface while others still use the old one. I believe it would be beneficial to offer users the ability to choose between the old and new versions of node interfaces for consistency and ease of use.
Thank you for considering this suggestion.
Best regards,
Hey @umutcankurt,
This is always a very hard discussion. For each node we carefully discuss internally if we need to deprecate the node and therefore have both representations (modern and classic). As soon as we change behaviour we usually always do this. The recently changed nodes were some of our most used nodes, which is why we put a lot of effort in, to not need to mark them as deprecated. As soon as we deprecate nodes you are still able to use the old dialogs in the deprecated node, but keep in mind that they will also not receive further improvements. While deprecation is nice to be on the save side to not introduce regressions, it also introduces a lot of work on the user side as you have to migrate to the new version at some point (for potentially lots of nodes in your workflow(s)).
We are currently thinking about some migration mechanism, so that we can be more generous in deprecating nodes as the migration efforts will be much smaller. But even then if you continue to use the deprecated nodes you have to keep in mind that they are not maintained anymore.
I get that you are used to the old dialogs and know exactly where certain configuration options are. If there is anything that you find particular worse in the new dialogs I am more than happy to talk about it.
We will not be able to maintain both representations of the nodes. This would introduce a lot of work which we prefer to put into improving the new dialogs and/or additional features of KNIME.
Greetings,
Daniel
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@DanielBog First of all, thank you for your detailed response. In general, I have no major issues with the new developments and node interfaces. However, I’ve encountered a persistent issue that remains unresolved, even after updates. Specifically, when I attempt to make edits on a node with the new interface while using KNIME on a remote Ubuntu server, the program either crashes or automatically shuts down. I have already opened a support ticket regarding this issue, and the KNIME team has investigated and responded, but unfortunately, the problem persists.
As for the new interfaces, I understand that adjusting to them will take time, particularly given the large number of nodes. After working with a specific structure for so long, adapting quickly isn’t always easy, especially with a comprehensive platform like KNIME, where users like myself deal with many nodes and various combinations. It almost feels like starting anew, as there is so much to learn and adjust to when working with an extensive range of nodes. Unlike a tool with a limited number of nodes, KNIME offers a vast array, and sometimes I find myself searching for features that were previously more familiar.
My suggestion is that, if possible, an option should be provided for users to retain the legacy interfaces for all existing nodes, while new nodes could be presented with the updated interfaces. This would help users like me, who are more accustomed to the previous structure, transition more smoothly.
Thank you for considering this suggestion, and for your continued support.
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