Simplicity is not about having less. It's about having what matters.

I keep returning to this idea: the things we build should do one thing well. Not everything, not most things—one thing.

Consider a text file. It has no dependencies. It will open in any editor, on any system, decades from now. There is no format to corrupt, no subscription to expire, no company to go bankrupt.

Compare this to a "modern" notes app. Cloud sync. Rich formatting. Embedded media. AI features. And when the startup shuts down? Your notes become hostages.

We've confused features with value.

The best tools I use are simple: - A text editor - A terminal - A browser

That's it. Everything else is optional.

Next week: the Unix philosophy, and what it teaches us about building things that last.