bit rot
Digital information decay
Bit rot is the gradual degradation of digital data over time, whether from physical decay of storage media or accumulating software incompatibilities that render old files unreadable.
The term captures how digital information, often assumed permanent, quietly corrupts: Half my old photo archives have suffered bit rot.
Extended to code that stops working not because it changed, but because everything around it did.
Superseded communication technologies
- abandonwareUnsupported, discontinued programs
- legacy systemOutdated tech still operating
- unsupportedLacking backing or proof
- migrationMovement to new territory
archival · emulation · floppy disk · Zip drive · MiniDisc · LaserDisc
Data stored magnetically
- hard driveComputer's internal storage device
- optical discLaser-read data storage circle
- flash memoryErasable non-volatile semiconductor storage
- CD-ROMOptical storage medium
Cannot be undone
- disorderAbsence of organization
- signal degradationLoss of transmission integrity
- cosmic rayEnergetic particle from space
- alpha particleIonizing emission from decay
- demagnetizationRemoval of magnetic properties
Inherited outdated programming
- technical debtAccumulated coding shortcuts
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- cruftAccumulated digital debris
- spaghetti codePoorly structured program
dead media
Superseded communication technologies
- abandonwareUnsupported, discontinued programs
- legacy systemOutdated tech still operating
- unsupportedLacking backing or proof
migration · archival · emulation · floppy disk · Zip drive · MiniDisc · LaserDisc
magnetic media
Data stored magnetically
- hard driveComputer's internal storage device
- optical discLaser-read data storage circle
- flash memoryErasable non-volatile semiconductor storage
CD-ROM · cold storage · RAID
irreversible
Cannot be undone
- disorderAbsence of organization
- signal degradationLoss of transmission integrity
data loss
- cosmic rayEnergetic particle from space
- alpha particleIonizing emission from decay
- demagnetizationRemoval of magnetic properties
legacy code
Inherited outdated programming
- technical debtAccumulated coding shortcuts
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- cruftAccumulated digital debris
- data storagehard drive, hard drives, backup, gigabyte, flash drives
- records managementrecordkeeping, record keeping, document management, data retention, file management
- book damagewater damage, torn pages, loose pages, cracked spine, broken spine
- digital researchsearch engine, data analysis, database, digital libraries, search
- reliabilityreliable, dependable, trustworthy, consistent, faithful
- Tech Glitcheslag, crash, freeze, lag spike, blue screen
bit rotrefactoring
Code improvement, same behavior
continuous improvement · backward compatibility · version control
bit, rot, bits, rotting, rotted, rotten, bite, bitten, biting