It's a general problem with "progress". Things change. If you really want a solid system, build it around the IBM System/360-based architecture, which is design

It's a general problem with "progress". Things change. If you really want a solid system, build it around the IBM System/360-based architecture, which is designed for long-term robustness. However, a front-end to such a system could still be a buggaboo, as UI standards (and non-standards) change like the wind. A "green screen" terminal (emulator) front-end from the 70's would probably still work, but newbies will give you a funny look. Many of the barriers to long-term robustness are social in nature.