What tools should and shouldn't I use to flash and repair my Xiaomi?

[skan]

I've just bought a Xiaomi Mi 8 phone with Chinese ROM and I'm about to flash a new ROM, maybe the Xiaomi.eu ROM. I also want to but a deep flash cable, just in case.

I've found there are many programs:
XiaomiTool, MiFlash, XiaomiADB, My PC Suite, other...
and many different adb drivers:
platform-tools-latest-windows.zip, ADB universal controllers, Xiaomi USB controllers

If you had to keep just one which one would it be?
Is any of them better than the other?, Any discouraged?
Does any do everything that others don't?

I have previous experience with other devices, usually copying the ROM to the SD and using TWRP or sometimes using the adb command. But I have no experience with Xiaomi, that don't have SD card.

 

[Pertti Kosunen]

MiFlash (Xiaomi MIUI ROM Flashing Tool, also installs drivers)
Xiaomi Official Unlock App
Android SDK Platform-Tools (adb & fastboot)
Official TWRP - Xiaomi

You should be able to do everything with these. (Except Mi 8 TWRP is not yet official.)

 

[skan]

MiFlash (Xiaomi MIUI ROM Flashing Tool, also installs drivers)
Xiaomi Official Unlock App
Android SDK Platform-Tools (adb & fastboot)
Official TWRP - Xiaomi

You should be able to do everything with these. (Except Mi 8 TWRP is not yet official.)

Therefore we don't need other tools such as Xiaomitool? then Why do they exist?
What about unbricking phones?

 

[zmajdk]

The most important thing is to unlock bootloader and enable developer option, USB debugging in case you do something wrong. Xioami flash tool is really good for flashing official firmware but be aware of the options to flash and lock bootloader again. Always read flashing guide carefully before proceeding.

 

[Pertti Kosunen]

Therefore we don't need other tools such as Xiaomitool? then Why do they exist?
What about unbricking phones?

What i've read it can ease up many jobs, but i've never tried it.

(MiFlash did not work last time i needed it with Redmi Note 5, got "Length cannot be less than zero." error, had to do all flash_all.bat commands manually with fastboot.)

 

[skan]

What i've read it can ease up many jobs, but i've never tried it.

(MiFlash did not work last time i needed it with Redmi Note 5, got "Length cannot be less than zero." error, had to do all flash_all.bat commands manually with fastboot.)

The only thing that discourages me from prefering Xiaomitool is that it hasn't been updated for one year, unlike MiFlash.