Use the tools you've got

For a long time there, I was convinced I needed a tool like Espresso or Coda to write my HTML and CSS. It had all these whizz-bang features and looked all pretty. That is, until I discovered I hadn't even scratched the surface of the capabilities of an application I already owned: TextMate. I had never explored the power of bundles and the shortcuts it enabled.

[caption id="attachment_108" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="My two tools"][/caption]

Now my workflow consists of two applications for my front-end coding: TextMate and CSSEdit. And that is purely because it helps my mental model of keeping content and presentation separated. There was no need to buy expensive fancy new applications to get work done. Which is an important lesson to learn: try to make do with what you've got first, before you lust after the greatest and newest thing. Unless it's an Apple product, of course.

Inspired by minimalmac and minimalswitch.