If all you have is a hammer

..everything looks like a nail.

This is one of my favorite quotes because it is applicable to so many domains. As Wikipedia states, it depicts a cognitive bias towards using a familiar tool in any situation. Humans are very creative, and if all we know is hammer, we will definitely find a way to use it on a screw.

But the beauty in this quote is the reminder that there probably is a better tool for the problem you are trying to solve. Relying on only what you already know is counter-productive when the tools don’t fit the task, so it’s a good idea to do a quick search first. That being said, don’t adopt the latest technology du jour just because it is popular today. Assess the time / complexity trade-offs of learning a new tool versus using what you have.

People are very inventive, and chances are someone has built a better tool for the issue you are facing!