Tooling
Designing a tool stack you can actually maintain
A grounded look at stack sprawl, setup debt, and the tools worth keeping when the novelty wears off.
Most stacks die from enthusiasm
The trouble is rarely lack of good tools. It is adding one more “perfect” layer every time something feels inconvenient.
A maintainable stack tends to be:
- boring in the right places
- clear about ownership
- easy to review weekly
- hard to confuse with a hobby
Practical filter
Before adding anything, ask:
- What does this replace?
- What breaks if we remove it?
- Would I still keep it after ninety ordinary days?
That last question does a surprising amount of cleanup.