Minimized System Design
Minimized System Design (MSD) is a set of design principles to simplify, optimize, and minimize how we operate inside and outside of digital ecosystems.
Creating workflows and system structures using MSD follows these simple principles:
- Simplicity
- Longevity
- Interoperability
- Privacy
Simplicity
When tackling a new challenge or solving a problem with various tools and workflows, it’s best to keep it simple. Try to reduce the number of dependencies and interaction points in your system. The system can be as large or as small as the problem it addresses. I’m using the term "system" loosely here to mean even something as simple as a two-step workflow.
Longevity
Most people use a computer for about four or five years, upgrading hardware sporadically, installing software as individual problems arise, and rarely, if ever, cleaning out unused programs. Past the five-year mark, after poor maintenance, many simply head to a big-box store and purchase whatever catches their eye—often something similar to what they previously owned. Phones are even worse: most individuals upgrade every two years, staying in a perpetual phone rental cycle with little to no control over frequent software updates. Stepping back from individual device cycles, people tend to show greater commitment to the operating system and brand of their devices—Apple or Microsoft, for instance. At this level, longevity and the biggest system decisions come into play. When creating your digital life and its associated systems, the operating system (OS) of your devices is one of the most important, yet often overlooked, aspects.
Longevity is crucial because you don’t want to constantly switch tools, modify your system, or create workarounds due to the relentless pace of technological progress. Choose tools that grow and update alongside their respective operating systems, and, where possible, opt for Free and Open-Source Software (FOSS) alternatives to privacy-invasive applications and platforms.
Interoperability
To maintain simplicity when creating complex systems that utilize multiple platforms, file types, and syncing capabilities, choose tools or software that work well together. Depending on your industry or business, you may need to manage a variety of disparate systems—maybe you’re juggling a Windows laptop, an iPhone, and a Linux server for your side hustle. In general, though, if your tools can communicate with one another, you’ll ensure smooth sailing. For example, a cloud service like Nextcloud using WebDAV lets you sync files across your phone, laptop, or even a Raspberry Pi home server, keeping your workflow seamless and your data free from proprietary traps. Interoperability means your tools play nice, so you’re not stuck wrestling with compatibility issues or proprietary nonsense.
Privacy
Privacy is one of, if not the most, important elements of a strong digital system—or any system, for that matter. Without the privacy to exert control over your systems, you lack the power to control your life. If someone else is always creating your products, tools, food, and even your thoughts, you cannot hope for personal sovereignty or freedom.
You should be free to make your own choices—and face the consequences of them. It’s about the principle of freedom and the right to think your own thoughts. If you want to plug into the "metaverse" and embrace a Borg-like existence, that’s your choice—just don’t expect everyone else to follow suit.
Until next time...