“God is in the details.”
Definition
Timeless Materialsare foundations that don’t expire. Mies van der Rohe chose steel, glass, and travertine not for fashion but for permanence. His buildings from the 1950s look contemporary today because the materials transcend their era.
In software, timeless materials are the technologies with staying power: web standards (HTML, CSS, JavaScript), relational databases (SQL), foundational protocols (HTTP, TCP/IP). These aren’t exciting—they’re reliable. They won’t be deprecated next year.
The anti-pattern is trend-chasing: adopting the latest framework because it’s popular, choosing NoSQL because it’s “modern,” using a proprietary protocol because the vendor promises better performance. These decisions age poorly.
“The question is not ‘what’s new?’ but ‘what will last?‘”
“The question is not ‘what’s new?’ but ‘what will last?‘”
Principles
Frameworks come and go. Standards persist. When possible, build on web standards directly. Use frameworks as thin layers, not foundations.
✓ HTML/CSS before framework abstractions
✓ Fetch API over axios
✓ Web Components when interoperability matters
Technologies with 20+ years of production use have passed the test. New doesn’t mean better—often it means untested.
✓ PostgreSQL over the database of the month
✓ HTTP/REST before GraphQL (unless you need it)
✓ Unix philosophy over containerized everything
Even “timeless” choices may need replacement. Ensure you can exit. Avoid lock-in. Own your data. Keep abstractions thin.
✓ Data exportable in standard formats
✓ No vendor-specific languages
✓ Thin wrappers over platform APIs
Exciting technology is risky technology. The most reliable systems are built on boring, well-understood foundations.
✓ Choose based on requirements, not hype
✓ Innovation in product, not in infrastructure
✓ “Boring” = production-proven = trustworthy
When to Apply
• Building for long-term maintenance
• Team stability is uncertain
• Requirements are well-understood
• Reliability trumps novelty
• You value sleep over excitement
• Problem genuinely requires new solutions
• Scale exceeds proven technology limits
• Competitive advantage from new capability
• Prototyping where long-term doesn’t matter
Timeless vs. Trendy
| Domain | Timeless | Trendy |
|---|---|---|
| Database | PostgreSQL, SQLite | This year’s distributed DB |
| API | REST/HTTP | GraphQL, gRPC (unless needed) |
| Styling | CSS, CSS Variables | CSS-in-JS framework du jour |
| State | URL, forms, localStorage | State management library #47 |
| Hosting | VPS, static files | Serverless everything |
Related Patterns
Arcs built on timeless materials (HTTP, OAuth, JSON) require less maintenance.
Standards-based materials are universally accessible.