Bit-Rot: The Silent Killer of Software Systems
Hugo Pragt
Systems consist of countless (often external) components that are constantly evolving. When a system fails to evolve with them, it becomes outdated and cumbersome.
How to recognize it:
Just as vacant buildings deteriorate without modernization, systems lose value when left behind. Causes include shifting usage, new security demands, growing databases, or neglected maintenance. What accelerates bit-rot: time, poor practices, and lack of ownership. What delays it: strong architecture, stable components, and regular refactoring.
Small issues escalate: a simple security fix suddenly requires a full refactor because the underlying framework is outdated. This is bit-rot in action.
“A system not maintained is a system abandoned.”
Not entirely. But it can be postponed - indefinitely. Microsoft Windows proves this: vital since 1990 through vision, leadership, and disciplined maintenance.
Do you suspect bit-rot? Don’t wait. Infodation helps with renovation, refactoring, or a roadmap.
So your systems withstand the test of time.
The Accidental Archeologist: Taking Over Critical Systems with Confidence
Microservices in 2025: A Journey from New to Battle tested
Event Sourcing in the Age of AI
Complex systems in Telecom
Distributed Teams:
how to (really) make it work
Production Ready: Ensuring Seamless Transition from Development to Deployment in Custom Software
