3 ms·
Data, information, doesn't rot, but code does because it relies on the implicit promises of the underlying system(s) it runs on top of, the systems it interacts
by 0xCMP 3y ago
Data, information, doesn't rot, but code does because it relies on the implicit promises of the underlying system(s) it runs on top of, the systems it interacts with, and the expectations of it's users.
Information on the other hand usually only gets more useful with time with very minimal relative-cost to maintaining code even though they're both digital.
And, like we're seeing, a lot of the "usefulness" of the information over time is new methods and tools for understanding that information.
- pyinstallwoes 3y agoThat distinction is not rigorous. To be rigorous the distinction must not be made.
- polygotdomain 3y ago>Data, information, doesn't rot... Can you tell me what hieroglyphics mean? What about a phrase of latin or another dead language? Information is only as "fresh" as our ability to interpret and understand it. Dead languagues are the same as a file who's format we no longer have the spec for. Yes, the ones and zeros may still be there, but without the ability to understand what they mean, there's little we can do with that information. We're still at risk of losing those capabilities for data.