If you are an engineer and you want to try a new technology, go for it. Even if it doesn't make sense. Learn new things, don't stick with the boring tech. Maximize your own happiness and your own knowledge, not the profit of your higher-ups.
This view feels so strange to me.
As an engineer, I find myself the happiest when I manage to build the simplest and the most maintainable thing for the business requirements. Extra happy, if it turns out we didn't paint ourselves into a corner when those requirements increase or change.
I just want to minimize my own tears in the future.
> If you are an engineer and you want to try a new technology, go for it. Even if it doesn't make sense.
Imagine how immoral this advice sounded like if it came from the mouth of a carpenter, an auto mechanic or a doctor.
Maybe this just activates my PTSD acquired from working in a startup with a long history of codecampers doing CV-Driven Development.
Yes, by all means, have fun, at HOME, not on company time.
If you had a choice, isn't it better to build cool stuff with boring technology instead of building boring stuff with cool technology?
I think his point was to focus more on the product not on technology, and by choosing a boring technology you will likely have more time and fewer problems shipping awesome products.
In my opinion, it also works in the other direction, where the managers push things onto the developers. "Can we use this blockchain thing?", "we need to do AI", "we should use this cross platform mobile app tool I heard and read 3 minutes about".
If you're a responsible adult you'll probably be the one who has to ship the stuff you started with the "flashy framework X" - boring technology is about maximising happiness - it just takes a while for this to sink in.
Don't put them on the critical path of your company without an exit plan.