--- title: "Worse is better" url: https://daily.dev/posts/worse-is-better-4qhhfmaei source_url: https://blog.ploeh.dk/2026/06/29/worse-is-better type: article source: "ploeh blog" published: 2026-06-29T05:32:12.600Z updated: 2026-06-29T05:32:36.417Z tags: ["general-programming", "architecture"] reading_time: 5 upvotes: 0 comments: 0 language: en --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://daily.dev/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Worse is better **[ploeh blog](https://daily.dev/sources/ploeh)** · 5 min read · 0 upvotes · 0 comments ## Summary Mark Seemann introduces a blog series inspired by Richard P. Gabriel's 1989 'Worse is Better' concept, arguing that the most popular technology is not always the best. Using the historical example of C++ winning over Lisp despite Lisp's perceived superiority, he sets up a framework for examining cases where less popular technologies offer meaningful advantages. The series will cover comparisons like JSON vs XML, C# vs F#, and async/await vs monadic composition. He acknowledges that going with the mainstream is often correct, but encourages technical decision-makers to be aware of alternatives, especially when a specific property of a lesser-known option outweighs the benefits of the popular choice. ## Full article daily.dev links to this article rather than hosting it. Read it at the original source: ## Similar posts on daily.dev - [Worse is better: JSON versus XML](https://daily.dev/posts/worse-is-better-json-versus-xml-wquafpzkq) · ploeh blog · 60 upvotes · 12 comments - [Because It's Not Fun Enough](https://daily.dev/posts/because-it-s-not-fun-enough-ofq2k9pnr) · Hacker News · 20 upvotes · 0 comments --- Tags: [#general-programming](https://daily.dev/tags/general-programming), [#architecture](https://daily.dev/tags/architecture) [View this post on daily.dev](https://daily.dev/posts/worse-is-better-4qhhfmaei)