I completely relate to Joe Stagner, who just wrote Trying to grok Ruby on Rails and says “Rails is what I would describe as academically interesting. […] But I kept asking myself “so what”?” Well, Joe, I would say that you grok it perfectly well. It’s definately an excersize in “old hat” as you say.

There is nothing truly new or unique about it. This is much like we’re seeing with all web development. Got a bunch of young fresh smart guys (and I’m serious, this is NOT a put down of anyones skills) who have a, genuinely, good Idea and say “Hey look what I just figured out I can do!” Unfortunately it’s like an uneducated person coming up with the theory of evolution: Yes its a good idea, yes you’re very smart and probably right… but… no… it’s not new…”

The monkeys may, eventually (and given enough time), pound out Shakespear but it was still good old William who really invented it.