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Why I prefer simple software with great primitives

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I’ve been thinking a lot about the software primitives we use every day.

We started with the Office Suite.

  • Writing in Word
  • Databases in Excel
  • Visuals in PowerPoint

Then came Google Suite, which brought the same primitives online and multiplayer. Eventually, Notion bundled them all under one composable roof. I use it every day.

But the primitives themselves didn’t really change. Still just text, tables, and blocks. Same building blocks but new interfaces and new interactions.

For a while, the trend was to turn each use case into its own product. “Every spreadsheet can be a SaaS”. Everything became more specialized.

But I think we’re swinging back. At least I am. Not because our needs are getting simpler, but because the primitives are getting better. Smarter. More expressive.

And once you see that most specialized software is just abstraction over primitives, a tool like Cursor starts to feel like the most natural place to work. It’s built for code, and code sits underneath everything.

It’s easy to oversimplify that. A lot of software today is complex in ways that matter. Cursor is a good example. People call it a “ChatGPT wrapper,” but under the hood it’s running a stack of custom models to make the experience fast and smooth. (More on that in an upcoming blog post)

I try to keep my setup simple - I write (code and words) in Cursor. I browse in Arc. I store data in Notion.

The fewer tools I use, the more they have to earn their place. The better the primitives, the more they can do. And the fewer the moving parts, the more peace I get.

I think a lot about software primitives we use daily.

Started with Office Suite.

  • Writing in Word
  • Databases in Excel
  • Visuals in PowerPoint

Then Google Suite: same primitives, online, multiplayer. Then Notion bundled them under one composable roof. I use it daily.

Primitives did not change. Still text, tables, blocks. Same blocks, new interfaces and interactions.

For a while, trend was one product per use case. “Every spreadsheet can be a SaaS”. More specialized everywhere.

We swing back, I think. At least I do. Not because needs get simpler. Primitives get better. Smarter. More expressive.

See most specialized software as abstraction over primitives, and Cursor feels like most natural place to work. Built for code, and code sits under everything.

Easy to oversimplify. Much software is complex in ways that matter. Cursor included. People call it “ChatGPT wrapper,” but under hood it runs stack of custom models for fast, smooth experience. (More in upcoming blog post)

My setup stays simple. Write (code and words) in Cursor. Browse in Arc. Store data in Notion.

Fewer tools, each must earn place. Better primitives, more they do. Fewer moving parts, more peace.