bitrot
Silent digital decay
Bitrot is the gradual decay of digital data or software over time.
Files may become corrupted, links break, dependencies fail, or code stops working as systems around it change.
The term evokes physical decay applied to digital artifacts: Half the links in that old tutorial are dead—pure bitrot.
Also spelled bit rot.
Unsupported, discontinued programs
- legacy codeInherited outdated programming
- deprecatedFormally advised against using
- dead linksURLs reaching nonexistent pages
- unmaintainedNot kept in repair
- unreadableCannot be deciphered
- errorFault in communication
- faultImperfection or blame
- glitchMinor system fault
Lack of predictable pattern
- cosmic raysEnergetic particles from beyond
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
- memory decayLoss of stored information
- signal degradationLoss of transmission integrity
Maintaining something's condition
- digital archivingStoring data for posterity
- migrationMovement to new territory
- cold storageRefrigerated preservation space
- redundancyNeedless duplication
checksums · fixity · data curation · emulation · refreshing · replication · long-term storage
abandonware
Unsupported, discontinued programs
- legacy codeInherited outdated programming
- deprecatedFormally advised against using
- dead linksURLs reaching nonexistent pages
unmaintained · unsupported · end-of-life · defunct · technical debt
data loss
- unreadableCannot be deciphered
- errorFault in communication
- faultImperfection or blame
randomness
Lack of predictable pattern
- cosmic raysEnergetic particles from beyond
- background radiationResidual energy from early universe
- memory decayLoss of stored information
preservation
Maintaining something's condition
- digital archivingStoring data for posterity
- migrationMovement to new territory
- cold storageRefrigerated preservation space
redundancy · checksums · fixity · data curation · emulation · refreshing · replication · long-term storage
bitrotpreservation
Maintaining something's condition
data integrity · backward compatibility · maintainability · future-proofing · permanence
bitrotfreshness
State of being unspoiled
refactoring · modernization · version control · keeping current · vitality
bitrotwell-maintained
Properly looked after
refactored · modernized · up-to-date · maintained · supported