Well, when I was in school, the goals were wide compatibility and portability. I was writing network C code in the 00's that could run without any changes on Wi

Well, when I was in school, the goals were wide compatibility and portability. I was writing network C code in the 00's that could run without any changes on Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, HP-UX, AIX, SGI, SCO, and Solaris. Code only "rots" when its dependencies rot from assholes who churn the language or break API promises. These low expectations lead to normalization of deviancy that churn without clear and present value is "okay", when it's merely job security or coding theater to appease others that everything must be touched and changed constantly or otherwise it's "broken".