In general, it's better not to force an action onto users. You might prefer things opening in a new tab, but you always have that option. If it's forced on users, it is frustrating for those who would prefer that not to happen.

And yet we're here, discussing how a developer should change their own application because their preference is wrong

If you don't like it, adjust it for yourself with an extension or script.

Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here.

Yes there is a right and wrong. The default browser behavior is the design that every user expects, so unless there is a very strong argument for a different way, this is the _right_ design.

the difference is that with tab-open default, there is no way for me to open the link in this window

with this-window default (or actually, the browser-default-default), I can middle click and it'll open in a new tab regardless

pretty funny to have this discussion though, takes me back to the HTML4 and XHTML days

XHTML ftw :)

> Exactly. This is a design choice and there’s no right or wrong here.

I don't agree. If your design choice forces a user flow that is surprising, awkward, and redundant then it's definitely the wrong choice. It's still a call to be made by the design team, though.

i mean, is a small user preferences page out of the question here? the majority of web users arent going to write a js extension.

You don't need to write one? Just write a ublock origin rule, use grease monkey or whatever is used nowadays.

Or just configure your browser to ignore the target param, eg browser.link.open_newwindow_restriction 0 in about:config

The fact I've gotten so many down votes for my previous comment really nails the point down how HN isn't really used by technical people anymore. It's mostly idiots with opinions.

Wrong again.

The idiots here are arguing to follow default, de-facto specifications and to give users an easy accessible choice.

That's a good user setting, but as opening in the same tab is the default browser behaviour then it should really stay that way. Opening in a new tab takes control away from the user.

This. Principle of least surprise.

Exactly. I prefer to open in the same page. If I want to open in new tab then I can always Ctrl + Click. I don't think I can do the reverse though.

Next they’ll be defending full screen div paywalls.

And people who prefer the other way can just hold down _____ while clicking to open it in the current tab instead.

Good ol' _____-clicking saves the day again!

only on a mac, and probably only on safari which leaves the majority of people in the lurch.

I was trying to sarcastically imply that no such same-tab-enabling key existed, and that this was therefore a bad suggestion. (Didn't know it does exist on Safari either!)

oh, sorry, your suggestion wasn't unrealistic enough to not be believable so my sarcasm detector failed.

i took ___ to mean the option key which has this symbol made up of lines: "⌥", it is also the key most likely to be used for such a feature, so i figured that's what you must be talking about.

if you weren't then the key most certainly doesn't exist on a mac either, and i apologize for the downvote. unfortunately it appears that i can't undo it anymore so i hope someone else will compensate with an upvote.

No worries :)

why the downvotes, I meant to demonstrate that I prefer the current behaviour so the site developer knows.

The downvoters meant to demonstrate that they prefer the standard/expected behavior and would like OP to ignore your opinion on the matter.

I didn't downvote, because the poster had a reasonable opinion stated politely, but I still really hope the OP ignores his opinion.

I like the new tab as well. Otherwise I will forget what I went to. My process is to go through an interesting site, like HN, and then be able to see these interesting sites after that.

I guess it depends on a persons web workflow though

The downvotes are because the discussion isn't really about "which option do users prefer". It's actually about returning user choice. As the original comment said: "If I want a separate tab, I can Cmd+click and Browsers don't have the reverse option for opening in the same window."

So when you say "Nope!", you're being downvoted because you're implicitly saying "actually users don't deserve choice".

Don't feel bad. I've been down-votted and banned into obscurity meerly for providing my opinion. Do as I did, get a gigantic list of all legislators and government officials, sent them a nice letter informing them of how HN's policies are rotten to the core. In my case I took screenshots, sent those too. When I post something such as now, only I can see it while logged in. When logged off, I can't see my posts. Will take pictures in both states, send those pictures to those legislators in my list :)

Sol Roth Annex HN

I too prefer that, but i don't want to force that choice on othet people.

CTRL+left click is ingrained in me now anyway.

100% agree. I had to install a browser extension when I use HN with such (vs app on android, when it does it by default), just to force open links to new tabs.

Have you considered middle clicking instead of leftclicking?

Ctrl+Click / Cmd+Click also opens in a new tab.

I do as well, but I think it's good practice to put something like in a user preference setting somewhere if you are going to stray from default browser/system behavior.

I'd rather have an icon next to the link that implies "Open in new Tab" like one of these with the arrow:

https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/new-tab

> I'd rather have an icon next to the link that implies "Open in new Tab" like one of these with the arrow:

That is a valid option for detachable UI elements seen in desktop apps.

Opening links in a separate tab or window is not that thought. That is a first class user flow in web design.

Yeah, I get that some prefer it the other way around.

The HTML anchor should have a target="_self_or_blank_depending_on_what_the_user_has_configured" option.