Too Many Solutions Is Its Own Problem

Update: Yes, I did end up migrating off WordPress. It wasn't a snap decision — I gave it a real shot, and it turned out to be overkill for what I needed. The point still stands: switching should be deliberate, not reflexive.

The software disruption

We are creating a lot of software. The barrier to entry for the modern software startup is lower than ever, which is great for consumers. It gives the existing monoliths some much needed competition. But there's so much good (and bad) software that it's becoming difficult to pick a product and stick with it.

This blog

I started this blog to refine my writing, storytelling, and ideas. Somehow I still fell down the software rabbit hole. Some of my searches read like:

  • "What's the best way to host a blog?"
  • "What is the best static site generator?"
  • "Static site vs CMS for blog"
  • "Best CMS"

By my second post, I'd spent as much time evaluating hosting options as I had writing. Now that the infrastructure is settled, the blog's original purpose is taking shape. But it's a reminder that too many choices can quietly drain you.

Choices everywhere

This wasn't isolated to the blog. I noticed the same pattern with note-taking apps, email providers, and more. I used to laugh at the Netflix phenomenon, where viewers spend more time scrolling than watching, until I realized I was doing the same thing with software. The last decade has spoiled us. From Amazon offering 25 variations of the same product to the endless search for the best project management software, sometimes the most efficient thing you can do is just pick something and keep moving.

An old problem

Homer portrayed this dilemma in the Odyssey. Odysseus knew the sirens' song would coerce him to his death, so he ordered his men to tie him to the mast and hold course no matter what.

Today's sirens are the many ways any problem can be solved, whether by software, a physical product, or a new methodology. Without commitment to one, you risk the solution itself. Every migration carries an administrative cost and a psychological one.

Conclusion

Stay open to new ideas, but recognize that too much change has a cost. Revisit your tools when your needs aren't being met, not just because something new showed up. Bind yourself to the mast and don't lose your heading.