A man and office in 1980's - 1990's style, complete with vintage computer and technology of the time, sleeps on top of his desk, slumping over the computer, too tired and bored to continue working. Wood paneling on the wall in the background.
Innovation is a word that seems to have emanated from the tech world and entered mainstream discourse. It’s a term that has stuck to contemporary notions of progress and improvement. But is innovation and change really that great? Are we in danger of valorizing novelty at the expense of reliability, security and functionality? The “Boring Software” Manifesto, published on tqdev.com yesterday (18 June 2018) says yes.
Written by software architect Maurits van der Schee, the “Boring Software” manifesto argues “as software developers we are tired of the false claims made by evangelists of the latest and greatest technology.” Just days after we revealed data on developer attitudes to ‘ninjas’ and ‘rockstars’ the manifesto is further evidence of tension within the tech world. The tension is perhaps not so much one between ‘innovators’ and those concerned with ideals of security and reliability, but more about those actively selling innovation, speed, and efficiency and those with a more pragmatic approach to software engineering.
Schee’s manifesto takes aim at what he calls ‘hyped and volatile technologies’. He also appears to suggest that the demands of industry actually conflict with these ‘hyped’ technologies. Implicit in the piece is the idea is that there is a counter-industry of hype and evangelism that undermines how software can best serve industry today. ‘In pursuit of “agility and craftsmanship”, Schee writes, ‘we have found “boring software” to be indispensable.’
The most intriguing part of the manifesto features a number of examples that demonstrate the tension in the software world really clearly. For example:
Unsurprisingly, reaction to the Boring Software manifesto is split. Many people have welcomed the intervention:
Others, however, were more cautious. Innovation and invention only opens up new options, they argued:
One Twitter user summed up the situation by suggesting the truth is probably somewhere between the two:
This is likely to be a debate without a conclusion. However, the manifesto is a useful intervention in a discussion about how we should build software and what we should value most.
What do you think about “boring software”? Is Maurits van der Schee correct? Or do we need to be open to new and emerging technologies and trends, even if they pose new challenges?
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