What we mean by “just simple tech”
At Bold Minds, we sometimes sum up our philosophy in a different phrase: “just simple tech.” It’s not separate from the “what if you didn’t have to?” question — it’s another way of framing the same belief.
Just simple tech means capable and clear — no extra ceremony, no knobs and switches that don’t earn their place. And to be clear: simple doesn’t mean shallow. It doesn’t mean flimsy. And it certainly doesn’t mean powerless.
Simplicity is not the absence of depth — it’s the presence of clarity. It’s a choice to remove what’s unnecessary so that what matters can actually breathe. Think of a well-written sentence: short words, direct meaning, but enough weight to hold its own in a crowded room. That’s the spirit behind Bold Minds.
When “advanced” becomes complicated
Too often, software equates “advanced” with “complicated.” You’ve probably seen it: an elegant idea gets buried under endless toggles, menus, and jargon until the original purpose is hard to find.
It doesn’t usually happen because someone wants to confuse people. More often, it’s because slowing down to redesign — to really weigh the impact and refine the experience — takes time and discipline. It’s much easier to tack on a new control than to rethink how the whole thing should work.
True simplicity demands the harder path: careful thought, iteration, and the humility to rework what’s already “done.”
But what if the most capable tools were also the easiest to use? What if technology could stay sharp, reliable, and fully capable — while also staying clear, humane, and even joyful?
A better standard of simple
Think about it this way: if you asked a friend in tech, “Can you recommend something simple to do X?” — what would a good answer sound like? Probably not a 12-step integration guide. The answer should feel like: hook up A and B, and out pops C where you want it.
That’s the standard we hold ourselves to.
Just simple tech is not minimal for minimalism’s sake, not “toy” software pretending to be useful — but tools that do the work without demanding that you learn an entirely new discipline just to use them.
Boundaries
We’re not chasing every feature request. We’re not building dashboards so sprawling they feel like another job. We won’t add complexity just because it’s quicker than redesigning carefully.
Respect
At its heart, simplicity is a form of respect. Respect for the developer who just wants to get something working. Respect for the team who needs to move fast without breaking their own brains. Respect for the idea that technology should help you build what matters, not become the thing that matters.
If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to stay connected. You can subscribe to get new posts as they come out, or support Bold Minds if you want to help this philosophy keep taking shape in real products. Every little bit helps me keep going — and keep things just simple.