Terms Governing New Tool Installation
A creative task became urgent enough to justify learning an entirely different application.
ARTICLE I: TRIGGERING CONDITIONS
New tool installation is triggered when an existing application reaches the portion of a task that requires actual creative output. The threshold is precise: new tool installation does not occur during setup, reference gathering, or planning phases. It occurs at the moment when making must begin.
ARTICLE II: THE GOVERNING RULE
If new tool installation improves the conditions for creativity, it may postpone creativity indefinitely. Improvement of conditions is not measured. Improvement is felt.
ARTICLE III: APPROVED JUSTIFICATIONS
The following are recognized justifications for installing a new tool mid-project:
- The existing tool lacks a specific feature that the new tool may have.
- The new tool is described in an article as being used by people who have completed work.
- The existing tool was also installed mid-project and should therefore be evaluated.
- The new tool is free for thirty days.
ARTICLE IV: ESCALATING PROVISIONS
Section 1. The creator spends a little time on new tool installation.
Section 2. That task reveals three adjacent improvements that feel safer than making the core thing. These improvements include: migrating existing files to the new tool, watching the new tool's tutorial series, and joining the new tool's community forum under the category "Getting Started."
Section 3. Eventually the support work becomes a complete project orbiting an unfinished center. The support work has been completed. The center is the original creative task. It has not been started.
ARTICLE V: TERMINATION CONDITIONS
New tool installation ends when:
a) the free trial expires; b) the person installs a third tool to evaluate whether it outperforms the second tool; or c) the person returns to the original tool and opens the original file, finds the cursor in the same position, and describes this as starting fresh.
ARTICLE VI: RECURRENCE
New tool installation may recur on the next occasion the original task is attempted. This is expected and has been factored into all estimates of when the project will be finished.
The project will be finished when the tools are right.