Yes, a tool to find good tools is called a friend. if they've got similar preferences to yours, ask them what tools they use and how long they've been using them :)

And as to metrics, the two main ones I'd worry about are these:

1. Is the tool subjectively fun to use?

2. Is the tool actually helping you do what you want to do? Or is it just keeping you busy giving you a false sense of being productive?

Some tools I've been using for years and swear by:

- obsidian for writing and note taking.

- git for version control.

- Beeminder to help you follow through on your goals and ensure you do what you're supposed to do. (it also helps you with having metrics about your work and life)

I've also become a huge fan of Perplexity.ai, which for me has almost completely replaced Google search. But I've only been using it for about three months.