A theory about why tools like Airtable and Notion are so compelling: they provide a much-needed synthesis between the design philosophies of UNIX and Apple.
Short thread:
Short thread:
UNIX is still the best working example of "tools not apps": small sharp tools that the user can flexibly compose to meet their needs.
Once you've written a few bash pipelines, it's hard to be satisfied with disconnected, siloed "apps"
Once you've written a few bash pipelines, it's hard to be satisfied with disconnected, siloed "apps"
The problem is, while the roots are solid, the terminal as UI is extremely hostile to users, esp beginners. No discoverability, cryptic flags, lots of cruft and chaos.
Apple has the UI design part figured out. They get a lot of flak these days, but hard to argue with their sense of craft and their success at bringing computing to the masses
Unfortunately, Apple has moved us away from the UNIX philosophy... everything revolves around monolithic standalone "apps". Files are losing prominence, replaced by limited inter-app sharing.
(Shortcuts is a bright spot, but general trend holds)
(Shortcuts is a bright spot, but general trend holds)
OK, so now looking at the new gen of productivity tools.
Airtable and Notion are toolkits. They give you legos, you build your thing. Like UNIX.
But, they also care tremendously about making a usable product that works well for the typical computer user!!
Airtable and Notion are toolkits. They give you legos, you build your thing. Like UNIX.
But, they also care tremendously about making a usable product that works well for the typical computer user!!
Goes beyond visual design too -- if you use these tools, the deep care taken in product design really shines through.
As one small example, so much thought has gone into Airtable's macro scripting system:
As one small example, so much thought has gone into Airtable's macro scripting system:
Another case study is Notion's awesome marketing. They are actually figuring out how to sell the masses on flexible toolkits, which is not easy
It's easy to critique this approach from both sides:
"more confusing than a purpose-built app, too custom"
"not as powerful as good ol' programming, just a closed source corporate trap with a low ceiling"
but I think they're doing a great job balancing.
"more confusing than a purpose-built app, too custom"
"not as powerful as good ol' programming, just a closed source corporate trap with a low ceiling"
but I think they're doing a great job balancing.
Sure these tools aren't perfect, but if they expose millions more people to a world of software where we build our own tools, I think that's a big step in the right direction for computing
Oh, and by the way, one of the most important things these tools do -- which feels very Apple and decidedly not like OSS Linux world -- is decide what to NOT let you customize
