The best tools disappear when you use them. They become extensions of your thinking, not obstacles to overcome.

Invisible Complexity

Great software hides complexity behind simplicity. The user sees a clean interface, but underneath lies carefully orchestrated systems working in harmony. This illusion of simplicity requires significant engineering effort.

Respecting User Agency

Tools should amplify human capability, not replace human judgment. The most valuable software gives users more control over their environment, not less.

When we build tools that make assumptions about what users want, we often get it wrong. Better to provide powerful primitives that users can combine in ways we never anticipated.

The Long View

Building tools for the long term means prioritizing stability and reliability over flashy features. Users develop workflows and habits around consistent interfaces. Breaking these connections disrupts the very productivity we’re trying to enable.

The software that lasts is software that respects the time and energy users invest in learning it.