Three Rounds of Tool Changes in Less Than a Year of AI Coding

From Cursor to Terminal

I started with Cursor, then about two months ago switched to Terminal (using iTerm2). Now I’m gradually moving from iTerm2 to the official apps for Codex and Claude Code.

Initially, moving from Cursor to iTerm2 was because I realized that while Cursor has a more interactive and visually pleasing interface (especially for designers), as soon as you get over the “code panic” that Terminal induces, Terminal actually feels more straightforward. It has a simpler interface.

The simplicity comes from the fact that Terminal doesn’t have many apparent interface configurations or menu options. From a user perspective, it basically has one action: input. I really like that.

Also, Terminal is perfect for having multiple windows open at the same time. You can position multiple Terminals side by side on one screen, or have several tabs open. Because the interface is simple enough, you don’t feel much psychological pressure. Opening five tabs is just like having five more input windows, and it feels quite relaxed.

From Terminal to Codex/Claude App

Later, I switched from Terminal to the official apps for Codex and Claude Code. A crucial reason is that the official apps offer remote control features, allowing me to control Codex and Claude Code on my computer with my phone.

That’s the most important reason for me. Often when I casually go out for errands and have a spare hour or two, I don’t need to lug around my laptop. For instance, when I’m waiting a couple of hours while my son attends extracurricular activities, I can just operate my programs on my phone without bringing my laptop.

I even find this faster than carrying a laptop. Because when I do carry my laptop, I’m often using my phone’s network anyway. The slow network naturally reduces efficiency. But now, my computer is connected to Wi-Fi at home, and there’s no comparison between the two.

There are also some details in the experience. First, Terminal’s window width limitation. If you open multiple windows side-by-side in Terminal, local file jump links break because the window is too narrow. After it breaks, the link becomes invalid, and I’ve had to copy the links out many times. Similar with iTerm2, reading text in a narrow window can be tiring; when I want to adjust the window width, the text doesn’t automatically adapt like in apps, which feels lacking.

Another is saving conversation history. In Terminal, the chat history is limited; but in Codex App, the whole conversation history can be saved more completely.

Moreover, there’s a balance between detailed experience and interface in Codex App. It comes with plenty of neat features. For example, you can pin some of your current projects (if you have multiple) or single tasks. I like these functions.

Perhaps another reason is my preference for more refined interfaces. While Terminal is simple enough, it can look a bit rough; Codex App, I think, strikes a balance between simplicity and refinement.

Lastly, Some Thoughts

In today’s world, users have absolutely zero loyalty to tools, and there’s no such thing as digital asset retention. No matter how many files you’ve stored, the migration barrier these digital assets used to represent is rapidly decreasing. Switching tools often happens at the drop of a hat.

Throughout my career, I’ve gone through many tool changes.

Started with FrontPage for web development, then the “web design trinity”: Dreamweaver, Fireworks, and Flash. Later, Photoshop appeared. From around 2003, I used Photoshop for about 10 years, until roughly 2013. Then I switched to Sketch. When using Sketch, it felt like it outclassed Photoshop in UI design.

But when Figma came onto the scene, it was incredible. How could a tool be so user-friendly? Sketch quickly exited the industry, defeated.

With the advent of AI, Figma is facing the same fate. I haven’t really used Figma for three months now, and I might as well cancel the subscription since it’s $20 a month.

Tools keep changing, and they’re evolving faster. This switching can feel brutal because just as you get comfortable with a tool, it might be replaced by something else. But honestly, this is also an exciting, even fun, era.