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Screwdriver Narrowness Considered Harmful
Merlin Also | Oct 26 2005
Something I actually think about a lot just popped out in an email to an internet acquaintance who makes Mac software Quote: One thing to know about me (and probably a surprisingly large number of your customers and potential customers): there's very little mutual exclusivity in my software world. For example, I use TextEdit, Vim, and TextMate pretty much every day and for completely different things. To me it's like having several screwdrivers. I could be that guy who insists there's only One True and Good Screwdriver, but I prefer to keep them all handy and just grab the one I need for the job. Does that make any sense? I mean I hear these territorial pissing matches on `foo tool` vs. `bar tool`, and how the fate of the world turns on making the right decision one time, and then becoming some kind of viral evangelist. Meh. There's stuff like Quicksilver and OS X in general where you inherently have to choose a platform. But what about text editors, graphics apps--jeez, even _notebooks_? Am I the only one who employs a stable of several different tools for a certain kind of task? Esp. where one is clearly better at one portion of the task than the others? How about you? 23 Comments
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 I think the best option...Submitted by Tinjaw on October 26, 2005 - 12:56pm.
I think the best option is to choose a few tools that together cover 80% of what you do on the computer. Then learn to use those tools to the fullest. Take the time to learn something new about them every chance you get. Only switch tools when the clear overwhelming majority of users have declared tool B is better than tool A. I have split my working life between software and the building trades. The building trades have taught me the value of good tools used to their full potential. For those other 20%, there is usually a best of breed tool to take care of those odds and ends you don't use that often. » POSTED IN:
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