20250808-simplicity.txt

"An idiot admires complexity. A genius admires simplicity."
-Terry Davis, creator of TempleOS

I can't believe I'd never heard this quote before today. And of all
sources, I found it through a Youtube video[0] that really wasn't
related to Davis or TempleOS.

I think it may be my new motto. For a long time, although maybe not
long enough, I've truly enjoyed using the less complex methods of
doing things...although "complex" may vary in connotation among
different people. Indeed, to use less complex software, sometimes you
need to engage in much more complex configuration (mutt with Big G
email is one example).

I've tried to imbue my workplace with this ideal, and it may have
somewhat worked with a few projects. The problem is I work in a large
group and it's virtually impossible to implement any changes myself in
the next 10 years. Unfortunately it's all very business political and
because it's so big, it takes a long time to get things meaningfully
changed.

For example, while we do have Samba drives, I would love if we had a
Gopher front end for it. I haven't even mentioned this to my
supervisor as an option as I'm sure it would be laughed at and
ultimately ignored. Especially considering Samba drives can be mounted
regardless, the only "advantage" Gopher would have is that it would be
accessible off the network, which could be just as much a security
concern.

Just thought I'd share.

0. https://youtu.be/TnuofQt7GTI?si=6fXzXbB1wz98ymgV&t=2520