This type of reply is indicative of precisely why it's so off putting for programmers to get into music. The attitude of "there are no rules!" is espoused while artist after artist that produce music that we like are clearly following some type of ruleset, at least to some extent.
Electronica might be rhythm and timbre based but even looking at rhythm you can start to ask some basic questions (what note length frequency is more pleasing? Why? What frequency of two underlying beats sounds good? Why?).
Sometimes theory can be nothing more than a collection of discovered tricks. Sometimes it can be something more fundamental. To waive your hands and say that all of it is arbitrary is doing a disservice to anyone trying to learn and understand.
Electronica might be rhythm and timbre based but even looking at rhythm you can start to ask some basic questions (what note length frequency is more pleasing? Why? What frequency of two underlying beats sounds good? Why?).
Sometimes theory can be nothing more than a collection of discovered tricks. Sometimes it can be something more fundamental. To waive your hands and say that all of it is arbitrary is doing a disservice to anyone trying to learn and understand.