The "tools" tag and its subsidiaries

Question

We have started discussing tools over here, and the discussion has grown to the point that I think it warrants a separate question.

tools has many subsidiary tags: software, medium, writing-instruments, typing, handwriting. I have also seen resources used in conjunction with tools when looking for "how to" guides (example: Where can I find resources about writing “Choose your own adventure”-style books?)

There are also sub-sub tags, such as scrivener (which is a particular softwaretool).

I have neither found, nor been able to come up with, a question that would come under tools, but not under any of its subsidiaries.

Now, the fact that a tag has many subsidiaries doesn't mean we don't need that tag. And the fact that a tag is in effect a sub-tag to a broader tag isn't in itself bad either. (For example, it makes a lot of sense that more than one writer would have specific questions about Scrivener).

So far, the facts. Now, what I think.

1. I would keep tools. Two reasons: first, someone might be looking for a software or hardware solution to a problem. Second, web tools: while they are software, people do not automatically think of them as such.
2. Monica mentioned the possibility of adding hardware. Turns out we already have medium, but I think "hardware" would be a very useful synonym.
3. Do we need handwriting and writing-instruments? Seems to me they could be merged.

Answer 1

I don't understand medium at all.

For questions about different media that can be used when writing, such as writing with pen and paper or on a computer.

For questions about different media that can be used when writing, such as writing with pen and paper or on a computer. You should mention what you are trying to achieve with changing the medium or what you are looking for in a medium that you are currently missing.

Looking at the 8 questions:

1. Anime vs. novel
2. LaTeX medium
3. Web vs book audience
4. Formating URL's on paper
5. Tablets
6. iPads
7. Paper vs. computer
8. Paper vs. computer (one day earlier than #7)

Even with clear guidelines, it's rarely used and usually for the wrong thing. And that's because it's a word with multiple meanings.

If we keep electronics separate, I recommend changing it to hardware with guidance that it is only for use of computers or electronic writing devices.

handwriting should be a synonym of writing-instruments.

My preference is making writing-instruments (I'm not wedded to the name, hardware would also be fine) the main tag and letting it be the catch-all for any electronic or manual tool used to actually write. Pens, typewriters, iPads, desktop computers, etc. software is still separate.

Answer 2

Let's come to a decision about tools

Tools include any physical devices or artifacts used in the writing process, as well as software tools (which should additionally include the Software tag). For questions regarding process, methodology, or organization, use the Technique tag.

tools is now one of our tags of the week. I would like clearer guidance on how to retag it or even to use it at all. According to the above, it should be used every time someone uses software or various other tags that fit under it.

In this discussion, we never fixed the odd tag medium and we never came to a decision about tools. In a related discussion, we thought tools wasn't real useful but never finished doing anything about it.

Can we:

1. Get rid of medium and retag the 8 questions on that tag appropriately.
2. Either junk tools and retag all 182(!) questions (many of which are already tagged with the correct type of tool) OR keep tools and retag all types of tools to also have the overarching tag OR come up with another clear solution and change the wiki to match.

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ADDITION:

Working with the retags this week I've had a hard time wrapping my head around when to use tools. Every time software is used? that makes no sense. I've come up with this usage. Let me know if it sounds right.

When the question is tagged software, also use tools if the question is about searching for software to perform specific tasks that are hard to do manually. Or for a use that might transcend software (like converting hand drawings). Do not add the tools tag for questions about software, such as how to do XYZ in Scrivener or comparing one scripting program with another. When the question is about non-software, add tools when the question is looking for a tool or type of tool to solve a problem. Do not add the tools tag for questions that review instruments or ask specific questions about using one.