It doesn't make sense because it's overstated. Let me try to state his opinion differently: NoSQL, as it exists today, is a tasty souffle composed of more air

It doesn't make sense because it's overstated. Let me try to state his opinion differently: NoSQL, as it exists today, is a tasty souffle composed of more air than substance. That's how the hype cycle works: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_cycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hype_cycle NoSQL is somewhere on that initial "peak of inflated expectations". (I don't think it's hit the top yet, but it sure is soaring.) Rails passed the peak many months ago and is somewhere to the right of the Trough of Disillusionment. [1] (I don't think it's plateaued yet: Rails still isn't quite done being invented.) Once the hot air leaks out in a year or two, NoSQL databases will still exist, and will in fact be better understood and better built than ever, but they will no longer be a trending buzzword. That's the day that the author is devoutly wishing for. (I, personally, find the hype cycle to be kind of fun to watch, and educational too, so I'm not as bothered by it as he is.) --- [1] Though your mileage may vary. The world isn't perfectly connected, so there isn't just one hype cycle. It's fun watching (e.g.) Facebook sweep through the world of my parents. They get really excited by "new" technologies about two to four years after the folks on HN have moved on from them.