Boring Tech Is Stifling Improvement

Interstate 95 near Philadelphia collapsed in June 2023, but was repaired and reopened in less than two weeks. The rapid repair used an innovative construction material called Foamed Glass Gravel as infill. This demonstrated how professionals found a better way to rebuild, bypassing slow supply chains to use new technology. The quick adoption of this novel material stands in contrast to the "boring technology movement" in software engineering, which emphasizes sticking to familiar tools and practices. While this approach has merits, it can potentially stifle innovation, enjoyment, and progress if taken to extremes.