Comment by TeMPOraL

8 years ago

> As in nature the language that thrives is the fittest for its environment, not the most powerful.

Now, this is an important observation, but it needs one caveat - "fittest for its environment" != "fittest for the stated purpose". I.e. an objectively better tool may lose to a tool that's barely good enough, but e.g. provides a better CYA for managers, in a self-reinforcing loop of popularity.

That's the essence of Worse is Better - shit that's barely good enough will outcompete proper solutions.

(For many, that essay seems to be an ideal to follow; for me personally, it's just the description of the sad state of reality that we need to learn to work around.)