boring is what you already know and don't need to spend a lot of time learning, or, if you don't know any, then it's what is widely known and well documented.
Already know? I think that any technologies can pose a non boring challenges. These tend to happen when a technology is used at scale, or with an unusual use cases.
Look at 'boring' php, facebook was using this language at scale, so they had to develop a just in time compiler for the whole thing. Python didn't have that problem, so it still doesn't have a just in time compiler (for the default interpreter)
Also look at all the changes and action in the JDK (ever since JDK11). Is that also boring?
i think it that the definition of 'proven' technology smells of silos: if you come from the Java world, then everything else is not relevant, same for php/python, same for the nodejs world.
true, it's a matter of judgement. i don't think that chosen software has to be proven in general, but if i chose it i want to be sure that i can trust it myself. everyone is free to make up their own criteria what that means for them. it's a risk assessment.
