Streams of Consciousness

Old master Banzen and young master Kaimu were sitting on a bench overlooking a gorge, watching fishermen in the creek far below.

Banzen said: “My apprentices learned of Java Streams this week. Now they use Streams everywhere, even when a simple for loop would be clearer...”

Kaimu mused: “When I first worked in the temple kitchens, I was intrigued by the many blades in the knife blocks, and wished to try them all. But I did not know the difference between a fillet-knife and a boning-knife, and ruined many good fish.”

Banzen continued: “...I would happily teach them when to use Streams and when to avoid them, but I do not know myself. Nor have I read any simple wisdom on the subject...”

Kaimu continued: “In time I grew to understand the purpose of each blade by observing how its shape and thickness either helped or hindered my task. In this way I mastered not only the knives I used, but ones I had never seen. Error is a poor friend but an excellent teacher.”

Banzen continued: “...Even if I could correct them today, tomorrow will only bring another peril. Last month my clan began to play with annotations. How can I conduct code reviews when essential functionality is migrating from the methods to the margins? And now lambda expressions are springing up throughout the code base...”

Kaimu continued: “Each new cook brought his own utensils, bright and sharp and strange. My favorite by far was a skinning-knife with a gut hook. I hardly ever needed it, but when I did it was exquisitely suited to its task.”

Banzen continued: “...I do not understand why people must tinker with a simple language until it becomes so complex that it is nigh impossible to learn...”

Kaimu continued: “I still sneak into the kitchens from time to time, to marvel at the latest tools by which complex tasks are executed with a minimum of effort.”

Banzen leaned on his staff. “My only consolation is that every afternoon I can sit on this bench and contemplate the happy lives of those whose sole aspiration is to catch and clean fish.”

Kaimu replied: “Indeed; theirs is a happy lot.”