# Simple tools make better workflows

Date: 2021-09-16 11:18:31 +08:00Date modified: 2021-09-16 13:00:06 +08:00

Simpler tools are often limited in scope compared to complex tools. Restrictions bring out creativity by forcing you to create compromises and Tradeoffs lock yourself in a position. Even from trending topics, there are people who are already creating extraordinary results with simpler tools.

- Luhmann, the man who popularized the Zettelkasten method, by using a physical drawer of notes. With the limited physical space of the paper and the amount of information he often interacts with, he has to create a system that can easily refer to various papers. Compare this to modern workflows such as Roam Research, roam:org-roam, and roam:Dendron.

- Text editors with terminal versus kitchen-sink IDEs. However, with the advent of protocols that enable IDE-like features, the line between them is getting blurry.

- The core of the Suckless philosophy by removing all of the cruft and removing as much needless features as possible to maintain quality.

Practically, it all comes to their Personal information management skills. It all depends on their use cases and if the tool is suitable to their workflow. People can make simpler tools integrate with complex setups and complex tools can make their workflow simpler. Furthermore, there are Problems with simpler tools that often comes with preferring this type of tools.

## Backlinks

- Problems with simpler tools
- All-in-one tools make good explorations