II can't imagine what could go through someone's mind that they would even consider that '
boring' vs. '
not-boring' is even something to look at when deciding which technology to use, with the sole exception that all other things being equal clearly the more exciting one will pay bigger dividends due to increased developer interest.
What constitutes a boring technology? Say I agree with you that COBOL is boring;
will Johhny down the road agree with us, or will it fascinate him? Now, let's say that we all universally agree that COBOL is some boring ass technology (unless you rode the short bus to school, I think we can
:-).
Should I really design my new project around it? OK. Now on to the actual reading of the article:
"Let's say every company gets about three innovation tokens"
OH ... how about let's not and say we didn't. So basically, the author claims to be a skilled software developer, but can't figure out that subjective criteria isn't your best bet when analysing data sets, and who can't figure out that you need a premise that isn't absurd to churn out a non-absurd result.
"What counts as boring? That's a little tricky."
Yes, well that explains why you never actually even attempt to address the question so fundamental to the understanding of your entire theory then, I suppose, isn't it?
"Taking this reasoning to its reductio ad absurdum would mean picking Java, and then trying to implement a website without using anything else at all. And that would be crazy. You need some means to add things to your toolbox."
Can't you use old 'boring' technology in this case? Don't use Mongodb; use Mariadb/MySQL. Old; tried and true; as 'boring' as it gets by this guy's implied but never stated definition.
... and I just went back and read the subtitle under "Dan McKinley", to wit: Math, Programming, and Minority Reports." Sir, if you are reading this, I have no doubt you are far better a Mathematician than I, but you seem to have made the mistake of thinking that being good at Math and being able to write a few scripts has placed you in a position to pontificate poignantly on subject matter with which you have no actual grasp. Please leave the Software Engineering to the Software Engineers, and I promise not to try to write papers in Math journals. Thanks!