Principlev1

Choose tools that store data in open formats (Markdown, CSV,

Choose tools that store data in open formats (Markdown, CSV, JSON) rather than proprietary formats to preserve data portability and reduce migration risk.

Why This Is a Principle

Grounds to Abstraction Necessarily Discards Information (abstraction discards information) and Categories Are Human Constructions (categories are constructed for purposes). Open formats preserve optionality by avoiding vendor-specific abstractions. The principle is prescriptive, actionable, applies broadly to tool selection, and derives from understanding abstraction as a choice.

Source Lessons

L-0910

Tool interoperability

Choose tools that can exchange data with each other easily.

L-0915

Tool backup and recovery

Ensure you can recover your data if any tool fails or disappears.

L-0902

Tool selection criteria

Evaluate tools on reliability simplicity and fit for your workflow not feature count.

Connections

Derived From (5)

AxiomAbstraction Necessarily Discards Information AxiomNo Direct Access to Reality AxiomCategories Are Human Constructions AxiomHumans discount future rewards hyperbolically rather than AxiomHumans discount future rewards hyperbolically, with value

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