🔭 Text based formats and command-line tools are the future

For the past three decades, we have been told that graphical user interfaces (GUIs) will revolutionize computer use and even programming. In many ways, they have made computers very accessible for the average person -- especially phone UIs.

However, the command-line tools and text files are still the standard for building stuff. Most useful programming is done in text based programming languages. Even most UIs are still implemented in text based languages such as HTML and CSS. In spite of the many graphical options that have come and gone -- HTML remains the king.

Why do text based formats and command line tools work so well?

• Text-based formats are easy to work with (collaborate, edit, tooling).
• Command-line based tools are easy to automate (build systems, CI, CD).

The coming AI storm makes these factors even more important. Because AI coding is all about tooling, collaboration, and automation.

If we dig a little deeper, text-based formats and command-line tools are "open" -- you can do things that were not originally planned. Open formats and tools do not lock you into a single paradigm, but rather allow you to build YOUR Platform to meet your needs.