Bit Rot
The phenomenon in which data on storage media gradually degrades and develops errors over time. Data is not lost all at once but decays gradually across repeated reads and writes, analogous to the slow corrosion of meaning in software systems.
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The author proposes that spec drift is not a bug but the thermodynamic default state, analogous to disk bit rot, corroding 'meaning' rather than bytes.
Bit rot is an actual physical and electronic phenomenon; on magnetic storage media, the direction of magnetization can gradually degrade over years due to thermal agitation, causing bit flips.
Hard drives have an average lifespan of 3–5 years, while tape storage can last up to 30 years but requires specific reading equipment.
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The author proposes that spec drift is not a bug but the thermodynamic default state, analogous to disk bit rot, corroding 'meaning' rather than bytes.
50%UnverifiedBit rot is an actual physical and electronic phenomenon; on magnetic storage media, the direction of magnetization can gradually degrade over years due to thermal agitation, causing bit flips.
50%UnverifiedHard drives have an average lifespan of 3–5 years, while tape storage can last up to 30 years but requires specific reading equipment.
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