What a straw man. Who are these supposed minimalist developers who read no books, avoid the internet, and just sit on a mountain eating rice and coding all day?
I recognize this minimalist movement too, and I participate in it somewhat, but exposure to new ideas is not only compatible with it, it's essential! Great developers go to meetups, read tech blogs, swim in the Github sea, and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Then maybe they go sit at bare desk with a Macbook Air and fire up their minimalist code editor.
I've seen it circulate in the meta blogging and lifestyle design blogging circles, but not in development circles. It's hip in the same way that nomadic lifestyle appears to be hip. Not based on the merits of the philosophy, but because it sounds sexy.
I recognize this minimalist movement too, and I participate in it somewhat, but exposure to new ideas is not only compatible with it, it's essential! Great developers go to meetups, read tech blogs, swim in the Github sea, and maintain a balanced lifestyle. Then maybe they go sit at bare desk with a Macbook Air and fire up their minimalist code editor.