Lately I’ve noticed a pattern while using developer and productivity tools.
I open a tool to do one small task…
and before I can do anything, I’m asked to:
– create an account
– verify email
– choose a plan
– accept cookies
– go through onboarding
By the time I reach the tool, I’m already tired.
Some of my most-used tools today are the opposite:
no signup, no setup, just open → do → close.
It made me wonder:
At what point did we start over-engineering simple tools?
When does “more features” actually hurt usability?
As builders, how do you decide when friction is worth it?
I’m curious how others think about this — especially people building developer tools or side projects.
What’s your line between helpful and too much?
Top comments (2)
I’m experimenting with building tools that work entirely in the browser with zero accounts.
The hardest part isn’t the tech — it’s deciding what not to add.
Would you rather have:
a simple tool that does one thing perfectly
or a powerful tool that requires setup and onboarding?
Marketing and making money is easier when every user converts to a registered customer.