# All-in-one tools make good explorations

Date: 2022-06-21 20:15:36 +08:00Date modified: 2022-06-21 20:23:36 +08:00

- the user can explore the components and features of a similar tool

- examples:

  - Swiss army knife versus a toolbox of individual tools

  - kitchen-sink IDEs versus a text editor with a shell

  - roam:Zotero versus a simpler BibTex database manager

- oftentimes, all-in-one tools integrate multiple ideas together into one smooth workflow

- however, they also often hides complexity which can backfire if the user encountered an error;

- if the user takes the time to break apart the tool and study its components, they can replace those components piecewise resembling to what they're used to; this is where Simple tools make better workflows as they can reduce complexity

## Backlinks

- Problems with simpler tools