Boring tech is mature, not old (rubenerd.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the idea that 'boring' tech is not old, but rather mature, meaning it behaves in predictable ways and has been well-tested and understood by others. The author argues that using mature tech can reduce the risk of unexpected behavior and edge cases. The article also touches on the idea that age is not a guarantee of maturity, and that some older technologies may still be complex and difficult to maintain. The author concludes that maturity is a better measure of a technology's value than age or novelty.

Main themes

• Mature tech
• Predictable behavior
• Risk reduction
• Tech maturity vs age
• Complexity and maintainability
• Innovation vs reliability

What commenters say

• Using mature tech can make upgrades and maintenance easier and less risky, as evidenced by the ease of upgrading Postgres.
• Some commenters disagree with the idea that age is a good indicator of a technology's maturity, citing examples of complex and difficult-to-maintain older technologies.
• The concept of 'boring' tech is subjective and can vary depending on the context and the individual's experience, with some finding value in the stability of older technologies like PHP and MySQL.
• Others argue that even mature technologies like Express can have performance issues or limitations that may lead to their replacement with alternative solutions.
• The importance of considering the trade-offs between innovation and reliability when choosing technologies is a key point of discussion, with some prioritizing stability and others valuing the benefits of new features and updates.
• Some commenters share their personal experiences with 'boring' tech, highlighting the value of stability and predictability in technologies like Vim, C, and Python.
• The idea that some technologies, like Starcraft 1, can remain engaging and relevant without constant updates or changes is also discussed, with some seeing this as a model for software development.
• The relationship between tech maturity and the concept of 'boringness' is complex, with some arguing that maturity is not the same as being boring, but rather a sign of a technology's reliability and stability.