The Lindy Effect or The Lindy`s Law

The Lindy Effect or the Lindy`s Law is this cool idea that the longer something has been around, the longer it’s likely to stick around in the future. Pyramids ? 🙂 So why we would want to keep with some old frameworks and such ? That`s nothibg fancy after all…. or is it …

Lindy effect historically

The term “Lindy Effect” gets its name from a famous New York City deli called Lindy’s, where comedians used to gather and chat about their careers and shows. The idea started with an article called “Lindy’s Law” written by Albert Goldman in 1964. In that article, Goldman described a sort of folklore among comedians who believed that the longer a comedy show or career had lasted, the longer it was likely to continue. The deli was essentially the birthplace of this idea.

It was also described more ‘scientifically’ by mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot and the book “Antifragile” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

The Lindy effect in IT

When you think about data engineering or IT stuff, it means if a tool or method has been used for years, it’s probably pretty solid and isn’t going anywhere soon. Classic data warehouse setups or ways of handling data – they’ve stood the test of time. They’re are safer bets than jumping on the latest shiny thing we just know by the marketing flyer.

What’s great about the Lindy Effect is that it helps us to act as a pragmatic developer. It reminds us to respect the old-school stuff that’s proven to work. These long-lasting tools usually have loads of community support and real-world use cases behind them, so they’re less likely to cause headaches. It’s kind of like betting on a favorite team that’s been winning for years!

Key Points to Keep in Mind

• If a technology has been around a while, it’s usually stronger and more reliable.
• Support, stack over flow posts, tutorials count, documentation size, all are very important.
• Stick with proven tools to avoid unnecessary risks.
• If it is popular there is a reason to it.
• Don’t always rush to try the newest trend – sometimes old stuff is better.
• Think of how long a tool or method has lasted as a good sign of its staying power.
• Build your data systems knowing things should last and evolve over time.
• Better to know how to use a regular hammer before getting a jacked one.
• Balance being open to new ideas with the wisdom of tried-and-true approaches.

Lindy effect summary

Overall, the Lindy Effect is a unviersal way to keep your data engineering and any kind of development solid and less stressful. Let`s start on what’s proven rather than chasing every new hype. We can always switch later on.