Simple CLIs Outperform Complex "Tools for Thought"

The author reflects on an interesting paradox in the evolution of productivity tools. Despite significant effort invested over a decade in developing visually rich, canvas-based "tools for thought," these sophisticated applications have been largely surpassed. Instead, simpler, often less aesthetically pleasing command-line interfaces (CLIs) have gained dominance. This success is attributed to the CLIs' ability to automate what the author terms "commodity thinking." This implies that tools that directly address and streamline routine cognitive processes, even with minimal design, prove more effective and widely adopted than those focusing on elaborate visual interfaces.