Unintuitive Behavior Of IsBusy And IsBusyAtStartup

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Introduction

In this article, we will delve into the behavior of IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup in the context of a Busy Indicator. We will explore the current implementation, identify the issues, and propose a solution to make the behavior more intuitive and user-friendly.

Current Implementation

The current implementation of IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup is as follows:

  • IsBusy is a bindable property that indicates whether the Busy Indicator is active or not.
  • IsBusyAtStartup is a non-bindable property that indicates whether the Busy Indicator should be active at startup.

However, there is a catch. When the initial value of the bound value is true, the Busy Indicator does not display the initial state correctly. This is because the initial value of the bound value is not used, and instead, IsBusyAtStartup is used to determine the initial state of the Busy Indicator.

The Problem

The problem with this implementation is that it requires developers to set both IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup to control the indicator mode at any moment of time. This is not intuitive and can lead to confusion.

To make matters worse, IsBusyAtStartup is not bindable, which means that developers have to resort to using attached properties or other workarounds to control the initial state of the Busy Indicator.

A Reproducible Example

To demonstrate the issue, we can use the following patch to the demo app:

Index: Demo/MainWindow.xaml.cs
IDEA additional info:
Subsystem: com.intellij.openapi.diff.impl.patch.CharsetEP
<+>UTF-8
===================================================================
diff --git a/Demo/MainWindow.xaml.cs b/Demo/MainWindow.xaml.cs
--- a/Demo/MainWindow.xaml.cs	(revision Staged)
+++ b/Demo/MainWindow.xaml.cs	(date 1741530147313)
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
             
             if(BusyIndicator.IsBusyAtStartup)
                 Stop();
+
+            // Emulate that IsBusy is true from the very beginning:
+            Button_Click(null, null);
         }
 
         public bool IsBusy

With this patch, we expect the Busy Indicator to be initially active, but it isn't.

Proposed Solution

To address the issues with the current implementation, we propose the following solution:

  • Use the value of IsBusy from the very beginning in the BusyMode's OnApplyTemplate method.
  • Mark IsBusyAtStartup as deprecated, as it has no use anymore.

By making this change, we can simplify the behavior of the Busy Indicator and make it more intuitive for developers to use.

Benefits of the Proposed Solution

The proposed solution has several benefits:

  • Simplifies the behavior of the Busy Indicator.
  • Makes it easier for developers to control the indicator mode at any moment of time.
  • Eliminates the need for attached properties or other workarounds.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the current implementation of IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup has several issues that can lead to confusion and make it harder for developers to use the Busy Indicator. By using the value of IsBusy from the very beginning and marking IsBusyAtStartup as deprecated, we can simplify the behavior of the Busy Indicator and make it more intuitive for developers to use.

Recommendations

Based on our analysis, we recommend the following:

  • Update the BusyMode class to use the value of IsBusy from the very beginning in the OnApplyTemplate method.
  • Mark IsBusyAtStartup as deprecated in the documentation and code.
  • Test the updated implementation thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the behavior of IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup in the context of a Busy Indicator. We identified the issues with the current implementation and proposed a solution to make the behavior more intuitive and user-friendly.

In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the proposed solution and provide additional insights into the behavior of the Busy Indicator.

Q: Why is the initial value of the bound value not used?

A: The initial value of the bound value is not used because the BusyMode class does not check the value of IsBusy in the OnApplyTemplate method. Instead, it relies on the value of IsBusyAtStartup to determine the initial state of the Busy Indicator.

Q: Why is IsBusyAtStartup not bindable?

A: IsBusyAtStartup is not bindable because it is intended to be a non-bindable property that indicates whether the Busy Indicator should be active at startup. However, this design decision has led to the issues we discussed earlier.

Q: How will the proposed solution affect existing code?

A: The proposed solution will not affect existing code that uses IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup in the current implementation. However, developers who are using attached properties or other workarounds to control the initial state of the Busy Indicator may need to update their code to use the new implementation.

Q: Will the proposed solution improve performance?

A: Yes, the proposed solution will improve performance by eliminating the need for attached properties or other workarounds. Additionally, the new implementation will reduce the complexity of the Busy Indicator and make it easier to maintain.

Q: Can I still use IsBusyAtStartup in my code?

A: Yes, you can still use IsBusyAtStartup in your code, but it will be marked as deprecated. This means that you should avoid using it in new code and instead use the new implementation that uses the value of IsBusy from the very beginning.

Q: How will the proposed solution affect the behavior of the Busy Indicator?

A: The proposed solution will simplify the behavior of the Busy Indicator and make it more intuitive for developers to use. The Busy Indicator will now display the initial state correctly, and developers will no longer need to use attached properties or other workarounds to control the indicator mode at any moment of time.

Q: What are the benefits of the proposed solution?

A: The proposed solution has several benefits, including:

  • Simplifies the behavior of the Busy Indicator.
  • Makes it easier for developers to control the indicator mode at any moment of time.
  • Eliminates the need for attached properties or other workarounds.
  • Improves performance by reducing the complexity of the Busy Indicator.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the proposed solution to the issues with IsBusy and IsBusyAtStartup will simplify the behavior of the Busy Indicator and make it more intuitive for developers to use. By using the value of IsBusy from the very beginning and marking IsBusyAtStartup as deprecated, we can eliminate the need for attached properties or other workarounds and improve performance.

Recommendations

Based on our analysis, we recommend the following:

  • Update the BusyMode class to use the value of IsBusy from the very beginning in the OnApplyTemplate method.
  • Mark IsBusyAtStartup as deprecated in the documentation and code.
  • Test the updated implementation thoroughly to ensure that it works as expected.

By following these recommendations, we can improve the behavior of the Busy Indicator and make it easier for developers to use.