Monthly ‘Is There a Tool For…’ — A Better Way to Ask
Every month, communities run a simple thread: “Is there a tool for X?” It sounds small, but it’s one of the most useful places online. I keep an eye on these threads because people ask weird, specific problems — and other folks point to elegant solutions.
If you scroll those posts and feel lost about how to ask or where to search, here are a few practical tips I use.
Start with the problem, not the product
Say what you want to accomplish. Include the platform (Windows, macOS, web), your budget, and any must-have features. Instead of “Is there an app for time tracking?” try: “Lightweight time tracker for macOS that exports CSV and has idle detection.”
Why this helps:
– People can suggest tools that actually fit your constraints.
– You avoid answers that are technically “time trackers” but not usable for you.
Search smart, then ask
Before posting, try these places:
– Product Hunt and AlternativeTo for alternatives and comparisons.
– Niche subreddits or forums (there’s usually a monthly thread already).
– G2 or Capterra for reviews if it’s a business tool.
Use better search queries: include the function plus the platform and a negative term if you want to exclude common noise. Example: “offline note app macOS no cloud”.
Give examples of what failed
If you’ve tried a few tools, say which ones and why they didn’t work. That saves people from repeating suggestions and helps them recommend something different.
Ask for trade-offs you care about
Many tools trade speed for features or privacy for convenience. Tell people which trade-offs you prefer. It turns vague recs into useful ones.
Follow up and share results
When someone helps you, follow up with a quick note about what you tried and whether it worked. It pays forward the favor. I once found a tiny Pomodoro app from a thread and returned later to say it stuck with me — that reply led to three more suggestions I would’ve missed.
Keep a personal shortlist
I keep a simple note where I paste promising tool names and one-line pros/cons. When a new problem pops up, I scan that list first. It saves time and stops me from relearning the same options.
A final word
Monthly “Is there a tool for…” posts are great because they crowdsource lived experience. If you want better answers, be specific, search a bit first, and say what matters to you. You’ll get fewer one-size-fits-all replies and more helpful options.
If you want, try writing a post now with a clear problem statement and your constraints. It’s surprising how fast a good suggestion shows up.