We don’t need more complex tools. We need better defaults, smaller footprints, and fewer moving parts. The most useful tools aren’t the most powerful, they’re the ones people actually use.
Complexity is expensive
Every abstraction adds cost:
- Learning curve
- Maintenance burden
- Debugging overhead
- Onboarding friction
At scale, complexity compounds. Simple tools reduce that surface area.
What makes a tool simple?
- Clear purpose
- Minimal config
- Predictable output
- Fast setup
- Easy to debug
Simple doesn’t mean limited, it means focused.
Why simplicity wins
Faster adoption
Dev teams move quickly. If your tool requires hours of reading or setup, it’ll get skipped.
Easier contribution
Smaller codebases invite contributions. Fewer dependencies = less cognitive load.
More robust
Less code, fewer bugs. Simple tools are easier to test and reason about. Failures are clearer and recoveries faster.
Longevity
Complex tools often break with new environments or dependencies. Simple ones last longer with less effort.
Simpler doesn’t mean dumber
The best tools are simple on the surface, powerful underneath. Good DX. Escape hatches. Defaults that just work.
Think:
- Tailwind over custom CSS-in-JS
- Vite over Webpack
- SQLite over Postgres (for side projects)
- Markdown over CMS (when it’s enough)
How to build simple tools
- Start with the pain, not the architecture
- Build the smallest version that solves it
- Write clear docs with real examples
- Make the happy path effortless
- Avoid configuration until it's necessary
Conclusion
Simplicity scales. It reduces friction, invites adoption, and increases clarity. Whether you're building for others or yourself, choose the simpler tool, or better yet, build one.