bit rot n.
[common] Also bit decay. Hypothetical
disease the existence of which has been deduced from the
observation that unused programs or features will often stop
working after sufficient time has passed, even if `nothing has
changed'. The theory explains that bits decay as if they were
radioactive. As time passes, the contents of a file or the code in
a program will become increasingly garbled.
There actually are physical processes that produce such effects
(alpha particles generated by trace radionuclides in ceramic chip
packages, for example, can change the contents of a computer memory
unpredictably, and various kinds of subtle media failures can
corrupt files in mass storage), but they are quite rare (and
computers are built with error-detecting circuitry to compensate
for them). The notion long favored among hackers that cosmic
rays are among the causes of such events turns out to be a myth;
see the cosmic rays entry for details.
The term software rot is almost synonymous. Software rot is
the effect, bit rot the notional cause.
[common] Also bit decay. Hypothetical
disease the existence of which has been deduced from the
observation that unused programs or features will often stop
working after sufficient time has passed, even if `nothing has
changed'. The theory explains that bits decay as if they were
radioactive. As time passes, the contents of a file or the code in
a program will become increasingly garbled.
There actually are physical processes that produce such effects
(alpha particles generated by trace radionuclides in ceramic chip
packages, for example, can change the contents of a computer memory
unpredictably, and various kinds of subtle media failures can
corrupt files in mass storage), but they are quite rare (and
computers are built with error-detecting circuitry to compensate
for them). The notion long favored among hackers that cosmic
rays are among the causes of such events turns out to be a myth;
see the cosmic rays entry for details.
The term software rot is almost synonymous. Software rot is
the effect, bit rot the notional cause.
Related:
- bit rot: n. Also {bit decay}. Hypothetical disease the existence
of which has been deduced from the observation that unused programs
or features will often stop working after sufficient time has
passed,
even if `nothing has changed'. The theory explains... - SOFTWARE ROT n. A hypothetical disease of which the existence has been
deduced from the observation that unused programs or features will stop
working after sufficient time has passed,
even if "nothing has changed!" Also known as "BIT DECAY... - sunspots n.
1. Notional cause of an odd error. "Why did
the program suddenly turn the screen blue?" "Sunspots,
I guess." 2. Also the cause of bit rot -- from... - cosmic rays n.
Notionally, the cause of bit rot.
However, this is a semi-independent usage that may... - sunspots: n. 1. Notional cause of an odd error. "Why did the
program suddenly turn the screen blue?" "Sunspots,
I guess." 2. Also the cause of {bit rot} --- from... - software rot n.
Term used to describe the tendency of
software that has not been used in a while to lose;
such failure may be semi-humorously ascribed to... - alpha particles n.
See bit rot... - bug n.
An unwanted and unintended property of a program or
piece of hardware,
esp. one that causes it to malfunction. Antonym... - link rot n.
The natural decay of web links as the sites
they're connected to change or die.
Compare bit rot...
