DEV LOG: Started From The Bottom Now We Here

Obsidian

Two of the most important characteristics of good design are discoverability and understanding.

Discoverability: Is it possible to even figure out what actions are possible and where and how to perform them?

Understanding: What does it all mean? How is the product supposed to be used? What do all the different controls and settings mean?

The Design of Everyday Things

The learning curve of a tool is the time it takes the brain to habituate. (nb: the brain is an object that is both immutable and mutable, can you think why this may be the case?)

It takes x time to learn how to tie shoes, y time to learn to drive, and z time to learn vim.

All learning curves are multiplied by coefficients of focus * curiosity * natural born talent * quality of instruction * x factor.

In time, hard-won skills are turned into background processes, freeing up the brain to attend to other tasks in “parallel”.

Well designed tools have a single and clear purpose, with room for customization from users.

The single purpose nature of the tool flattens the learning curve, the customization scales with the increasing skill of the user.

Some examples in my own life:

• Obsidian + Community Plugins

• Paper + Pencil

• Kindle

• Any computational device

• Thrifted Clothing + Scissors

Other News

• The last words of Augustus and Nero truly speak to their personalities

Augustus's famous last words were, "Have I played the part well? Then applaud as I exit" ("Acta est fabula, plaudite")—referring to the play-acting and regal authority that he had put on as emperor.

Augustus

When one of the horsemen entered and saw that Nero was dying, he attempted to stop the bleeding, but efforts to save Nero's life were unsuccessful. Nero's final words were "Too late! This is fidelity!"

Nero

• A drawing app that doubles as a mind reader

• What air purifiers can do for QoL is amazing. Buy one.

ars longa, vita brevis

Bram