As I reflected on my engineering values this evening over a good cup of coffee, I noticed a common theme: I value underwhelming, useful tools.
Many of the underwhelming, useful tools I value (including tools which have been around for decades along with those which are only ideas in my head) fall into two distinct categories:
- web applications
- command-line tools
By underwhelming, I mean distinctly not overwhelming, not even remotely so, though Merriam-Webster defines underwhelming as “failing to impress or stimulate.” Perhaps both are accurate to my point. If a software tool is simple and all too useful, it no longer feels like software, it fails to continue to impress, and is able to become one with your activity space.
Not all underwhelming tools are useful, which is why I value tools both underwhelming and useful. When a tool is overwhelming, it may be difficult to understand its utility. When a tool is underwhelming, its utility quickly presents itself.
I find this blog underwhelming at times… :-P Now to make it useful…
Tags: overwhelming, tools, underwhelming, useful, values, whelming
