Andrew Quinn shares a thoughtful perspective on the importance of building and rethinking tools in the world of programming. He reflects on his early years, where curiosity about creating new software often collided with doubts about whether existing solutions might be better. Instead of dismissing this, he suggests that some level of reinvention is necessary for progress.

Why Reinventing Can Accelerate Innovation

Quinn argues that focusing on reinventing a few core tools rather than trying to create everything from scratch can push developers closer to true mastery. He believes that in most fields, a handful of well-understood tools—around four or five—are enough to reach the frontier of what’s possible. Trying to reinvent everything, or assuming existing tools are perfect, can slow down progress.

He points out that asking targeted questions and reworking key tools can often lead to faster breakthroughs than spending endless hours studying existing solutions. For example, instead of building a simple TSV-aware search and replace function from scratch, a developer might learn about awk, a powerful tool that can handle such tasks efficiently. This approach helps avoid unnecessary duplication and accelerates learning.

The Balance Between Innovation and Building on the Past

Quinn emphasizes that reinventing tools is not about unnecessary duplication. Instead, it’s about understanding when it’s time to build anew and when to stand on the shoulders of giants. Reinventing a tool is a way to deepen understanding and adapt solutions to specific problems. This process often reveals insights that can improve existing methods or lead to entirely new approaches.

He also notes that in highly complex fields like mathematics or computer science, more reinventions might be necessary—possibly twenty or thirty—due to the intricate nature of the problems. Still, he advocates for a focused approach, where each reinvention is purposeful and advances the frontier of knowledge.

Ultimately, Quinn believes that actively engaging in building and rethinking tools is more productive than idle study. Every time a developer questions assumptions or experiments with a new approach, they move closer to innovative solutions faster than passively absorbing existing knowledge. This mindset encourages continuous learning and hands-on problem solving.

His insights remind us that progress in technology often comes from a balance of learning, building, and rethinking. Instead of fearing redundancy, developers should see reinvention as a vital step toward mastery and innovation. By doing so, they contribute to a culture of practical experimentation and meaningful advancement in their fields.

Inspired by

• https://simonwillison.net/2026/May/10/andrew-quinn/#atom-everything

Sources

• fandf.co
• andrew-quinn.me