Boring is great as long as you aren't looking for a job. There is a significant risk that you are slowly removing yourself from the job market if you stick to boring tech. Your next employer often doesn't give a sh.t that you provided great business value. Most of them want shiny new. When I read the ads of my current employer I don't think I would get hired.
Python is a very old tech (v1 in 1991), but you won't have a hard time finding a job because the popularity of the language has been kept up first with the web, then with data analysis and now with AI.
Also, the more something has been out there, the more legacy there is to maintain. There is no shortage of PHP or Java jobs. Sure they are not sexy, but you'll have work.
Can you give examples of what you consider to be “boring” versus “shiny new” tech? IME job postings are dominated by mature, mainstream tech like Python, Java, JS/TS, and so on.
I've used Copilot to give you an example of an average front-end web development recruitment message. From personal experience, this is how it they are in 2025. At the end of the day, the work itself will consist of applying small visual customisations to an existing CMS.
"Dive headfirst into the realms of React.js, Vue.js, and Angular for mind-blowing interfaces. Unleash the raw power of Svelte and Next.js for lightning-fast performance. Style with Tailwind CSS and code with TypeScript for ultra-modern, maintainable projects. Integrate GraphQL and WebAssembly for next-level data handling and execution. Build Progressive Web Apps (PWA) and leverage Server-Side Rendering (SSR) for out-of-this-world user experiences. Embrace the Jamstack architecture and Micro Frontends for infinitely scalable, modular applications. Focus on Component-Driven Development and Headless CMS for ultimate flexibility. Create Single Page Applications (SPA) with Responsive Design and CSS-in-JS for seamless adaptability. Master State Management with Redux, MobX, or Zustand. Supercharge your workflow with Automated Testing (Jest, Cypress) and CI/CD Pipelines. Prioritize Web Performance Optimization, Accessibility (a11y), and User Experience (UX) for top-tier applications. Implement Design Systems, Code Splitting, and Lazy Loading for hyper-efficient, user-friendly experiences. Join the vanguard of front-end development and shatter the boundaries of what’s possible!"
Here's some requirement sections from real frontend job postings on weworkremotely.com. Not putting them all here, but I clicked through a dozen and these seem representative.
Except for the mentions of next.js and one mention of AI assistants, these job postings could be from 2020 or even 2015.
Senior Frontend Developer at SimplyAnalytics
- 8+ years of professional software development experience on large, structured code bases using vanilla JavaScript (this is not a React, Angular, Node.js, or full-stack position)
- Strong UI development skills (CSS & HTML)
- Open to learning new technologies
- Self-starter who gets things done
- Attention to detail
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Frontend Developer at Nutrient
- Good knowledge of web technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, React.js. Next.js, Javascript/jQuery, HTTP, REST, PHP, Cookies, DOM).
- Familiarity with UI frameworks (e.g., Bootstrap, Tailwind CSS).
- Familiarity and regular use of AI assisted IDEs like Cursor, Windsurf, Co-Pilot, etc.
- Manage and prioritize multiple concurrent projects, meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Have good communication skills and enjoy working with a passionate team and experience working on a globally distributed team.
- Have a well-rounded approach to problem solving, and understand the difference between when to apply a fix and when to refactor to remove a specific class of bugs.
- Experience integrating with various Marketing technologies and tools/APIs (e.g., Hubspot, Google Analytics, Salesforce, etc).
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Senior Frontend Software Engineer at Hopper
- Senior-level experience & familiarity with React
- The ability to effectively drive towards a solution in a thoughtful and creative manner
- The ability to work autonomously, iterate on solutions, and manage different contexts
- Dealt with ambiguity and can balance building out multiple features at once without jeopardizing the quality of the code
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Senior React Developer at SKYCATCHFIRE
- Expert-level React development
- Strong background in TypeScript and Next.js
- Using AI assistance tools to develop better software
- Experience building and maintaining large-scale applications
- Clear written communicator that prefers emails to meetings
- Portfolio showing systematic, well-structured work
Good employers definitely care about business value, and IME great candidates are excellent at highlighting business value in their resumes relative to the tech they used. E.g. "Maintained and improved various UI forms, migrating to react-hook-form" vs "Experimented and optimized booking form, increasing conversion by 7%"). Bit of a trite example but along those lines. I agree tech still matters though.
I'm slowly removing myself from the job market because I'm going to retire. Go work yourself to death at an exciting startup that will fail before your options vest if you want, but some of us would rather enjoy our little cabins in the woods for a few decades.
