3 ms·

> Tools should strive to be easy to begin working with but still have lots of open-ended potential I don't think this matches the definition of "tool", or at l

> Tools should strive to be easy to begin working with but still have lots of open-ended potential I don't think this matches the definition of "tool", or at least not a good one. Good tools tend to have specific applications (screwdriver), or are hard to master (carpentry gear). You never see a professional replacing a toolbox w/ a multi-tool for a reason. There is a necessary trade-off between efficiency and flexibility. This description of "tool" sounds more like "clay", maybe this idea requires a better analogy.

gambler 7y ago
Flathead screwdrivers are used for zillion different things, though. From prying open cans of paint, to making holes in stuff, to short-circuiting CMOS reset terminals. Now, a powered screwdriver is immediately less versatile. A lot of modern software tools are like powered screwdriver with a single head permanently attached.
- gumby 7y ago
  Fantastic metaphor