Linux users swear by simple tools, and now I finally understand why
Linux users swear by simple tools, and now I finally understand why
https://www.xda-developers.com/linux-users-swear-by-simple-tools-and-now-i-finally-understand-why/
Publish Date: 2026-03-20 14:30:00
Source Domain: www.xda-developers.com
Back when I was a full-time Windows user, I didn’t understand why Linux users relied so much on simple tools. Friends of mine who used Linux would rely on tools that looked like they came from the Windows XP era, and when I asked them why they kept using them, they said it was simple, reliable, and worked. I didn’t understand it. I liked my modern-day flashy apps.
Well, fast-forward to today, and now I’m on Linux myself. And now that I’m in the world of FOSS, I, too, find myself using tools that are so old they can purchase alcohol. And you know what? I totally get it now.
Something I’ve come to cherish over time
When I used Windows, I didn’t really like using apps that looked outdated and were a little clunky to use. I preferred newer, sleeker apps with refined GUIs and better workflows. However, over time, I have noticed that some of the apps I came to know and love have received updates that changed how things work, and it’s always annoying when a new version of a program mixes things up for seemingly no reason.
On the other hand, an open-source tool made by one passionate individual who has maintained it solo for a decade will rarely have such sweeping changes applied to it. I can boot it up in one, five, maybe even ten years time, and it should look and feel very similar to what I remember. It makes the app feel more like a reliable tool than a flashy product.
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