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For me one example of a toy that became a tool after a few design/development iterations is Postman. It started out as a basic browser extension that let a pers

For me one example of a toy that became a tool after a few design/development iterations is Postman. It started out as a basic browser extension that let a person make HTTP requests to an API endpoint and displayed the JSON/XML output for you in a pretty formatted result section. Then after a few iterations it has become a very useful and capable tool for API exploration, testing, and design. They key for me is to have a tool which hides its advanced features behind a sliding door, where you can reach for the complex feature when needed, but not be bothered by it when you don’t.

TeMPOraL 9y ago
That's the approach I like. Advanced features don't have to clutter the interface. They can be hidden; they just have to exist, and be discoverable. Also, by "features" I don't even mean new things to do - ones improving ergonomics are also important. For instance, having every action in GUI also exposed as a discoverable keyboard shortcut goes a long way towards making life easier for people who have to do lots of work in an application. A trivial thing, but seemingly forgotten in the era of "web browser as a desktop".