The Codeless Code: Case 214 Streams of Consciousness 
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 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.”