Understanding Value Systems in Technology Selection: A Perspective More Than Just Good or Bad

One of the most common problems in software development is the debate over technology choice. Be it programming languages, frameworks, or tools. Too often, these debates end with the simple conclusions of "Technology A is better than B" or "Technology X is worse than Y" without considering the context and value systems behind those technologies' designs.

Understand the difference between "not working" and "not serving the purpose."

Deciding which technology is good or bad is It is necessary to distinguish between two main points:

1. Technology that "Not working": is technology that fails to achieve the goals set out in its own design, e.g.

   • A language designed for speed. But it works significantly slower than competitors
   • Framework that claims to increase productivity but has a too high learning curve
   • System that emphasizes safety But there is a serious flaw

2. Technology that "does not meet the value system's needs": is technology that performs as well as it was designed. But what it gives importance to does not match our needs, such as

   • Performance-focused language, but we need more development speed
   • A highly flexible framework. But we want simplicity in maintenance
   • Tool that emphasizes maximum safety. But we need speed in development

Case study: Go vs Rust

A clear example of the difference in Value Systems is the comparison between Go and Rust:

Go: Value System that emphasizes Developer Productivity

• Designed to be easy to learn
• Emphasis on simplicity of language
• Focus on working in large teams
• Suitable for developers with various levels of experience
• Sacrifice some features to reduce learning curve

Rust: Value System that emphasizes Performance and Safety

• Focus on efficiency at the system programming level
• Focus on security of memory management
• There is a strict type system
• Allows a high learning curve in exchange for safety and efficiency

Both Go and Rust are not "bad" in the way they were designed, but they have very different value systems

Business context and technology selection

Choosing technology should consider the business context as important:

Startup case

• Need a fast time-to-market
• Limited resources to hire developers
• May trade performance for development speed
• Budget infrastructure It may not be the main limitation

In the case of large organizations

• Must consider long-term costs
• Has a large and diverse developer team
• Need consistency in development
• System performance has a high impact on costs

Escape from the Value System trap

Experienced developers often fall into the trap of their own familiar value systems. There are several ways to escape from this trap:

1. Open your mind to learn about different contexts

   • Study case studies from organizations that are different in size and nature from what we are used to
   • Talk to developers working in different contexts

2. Practice looking at problems from multiple angles

   • Consider the pros and cons of each option in a variety of contexts
   • Don't rush to the conclusion that our preferred method is always the best

3. Understand the origins of the design

   • Study the reasons and motivations behind the design of various technologies
   • Understand that every design has a trade-off

Conclusion

Understanding and embracing the diversity of Value Systems in software development is important for every developer. There is no "best" technology in every situation. Choosing the right technology depends on understanding the context, goals, and limitations of each situation

Technology discussions should focus on exchanging views on different Value Systems. Instead, judgments about what is good or bad are made without context. Because understanding these differences will help us design and develop systems that better meet the needs of users

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