Problem with software is bitrot. Web app lasts about a year, iOS app 2–4 years

[fsagx]

I was thinking that this was not quite correct as I saw the problem. A vanilla html-css-js page from 10 or 15 years ago will probably run just fine in a modern browser (though it will look its age). The loads of external dependancies is what will doom web projects.

A tweet down-thread coined a word for this:

Ry @RyanMorey I think we need a different term for this than bitrot. It’s not data corruption breaking these, but like compatibility corruption? PlatformRot

[paulryanrogers]

Platform Drift?

[daymanstep]

C programs, on the other hand, last for decades. You can take a C program written 20 years ago (using POSIX API) and it will still run just fine today.

[svaha1728]

As long as it’s on a VM; and not exposed to Bluetooth, the internet, or any external devices. This may be true.

I miss my VIC-20 too, but those days are over.

[than3]

That's not necessarily true. Bitrot and bit flipping is pernicious and largely silent, while it affects source code less than object code, its still an issue regardless of the language medium.

[mathgladiator]

I've been shocked to discover the number of MVP shops that exist and sell broken shit.

I can't stand the npm ecosystem because every project can't just sit there. When I return to it, something is broken and I can only find out by debugging it via runtime.

Thus is why I'm building my own shit from top to bottom as a vertical investment.