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In the keynote titled 'Growing Old' by Chad Fowler at RubyConf 2017, the speaker reflects on the aging of the Ruby programming language and software systems in general, using the notion of legacy as a central theme. Fowler starts by reminiscing about his contributions to the Ruby community and his experiences with legacy systems in software development. He underscores a prevalent sentiment regarding Ruby's libraries and features feeling outdated, emphasizing that while the language has aged, it remains relevant, influenced by demands for modern programming features akin to those found in TypeScript.

Fowler illustrates the concept of legacy through various anecdotes, contrasting software with arts and music, showcasing figures like Beethoven and John Coltrane who left behind celebrated legacies. He posits that the negative perception of 'legacy' in the software world overlooks its potential to signify something of enduring value.

He uses the Standish Group's data to underscore the software industry's struggles with project success rates, where many systems fail or become obsolete shortly after birth. To counteract these trends, Fowler discusses methods to create sustaining software systems, advocating for a biological metaphor of regeneration, where small and simple components replace larger, monolithic systems, akin to cells in a living organism.

Key points include:
- The necessity of creating systems with longevity and stability, as seen in successful legacy systems from the UNIX world.
- The encouragement of small, manageable components within software development that can be easily updated or replaced to ensure longevity.
- The concept of homeostasis from biology, where various subsystems balance each other out to maintain stability.
- The importance of reducing code complexity and focusing on the value of the overall system rather than the code itself.

Fowler concludes with reflections on the adaptability of systems, resting on the importance of having clean interfaces and the virtue of allowing systems to fail and recover, rather than striving for a perfect state of operation. His call to action is for developers to learn to create thoughtful code that contributes to a legacy of stability and innovation in the software domain.

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