From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: from lists.gentoo.org (pigeon.gentoo.org [208.92.234.80]) by finch.gentoo.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3298213836E for ; Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:31:57 +0000 (UTC) Received: from pigeon.gentoo.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with SMTP id C0A8BE06C5; Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:31:38 +0000 (UTC) Received: from smtp.gentoo.org (smtp.gentoo.org [140.211.166.183]) (using TLSv1 with cipher AECDH-AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by pigeon.gentoo.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 767A1E06B7 for ; Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:29:55 +0000 (UTC) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by smtp.gentoo.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id BB6D533DA91 for ; Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:29:54 +0000 (UTC) X-Virus-Scanned: by amavisd-new using ClamAV at gentoo.org X-Spam-Flag: NO X-Spam-Score: -1.29 X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=-1.29 tagged_above=-999 required=5.5 tests=[AWL=-2.491, DKIM_ADSP_CUSTOM_MED=0.001, FREEMAIL_FROM=0.001, NML_ADSP_CUSTOM_MED=1.2, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE=-0.0001, RP_MATCHES_RCVD=0.001, SPF_HELO_PASS=-0.001, SPF_PASS=-0.001] autolearn=no Received: from smtp.gentoo.org ([IPv6:::ffff:127.0.0.1]) by localhost (smtp.gentoo.org [IPv6:::ffff:127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id cWI9mF1Ww8pS for ; Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:29:49 +0000 (UTC) Received: from plane.gmane.org (plane.gmane.org [80.91.229.3]) (using TLSv1 with cipher AES256-SHA (256/256 bits)) (No client certificate requested) by smtp.gentoo.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id D814633DA41 for ; Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:29:48 +0000 (UTC) Received: from list by plane.gmane.org with local (Exim 4.69) (envelope-from ) id 1Tsb7m-0000RV-DC for gentoo-user@gentoo.org; Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:29:58 +0100 Received: from dsl.comtrol.com ([64.122.56.22]) by main.gmane.org with esmtp (Gmexim 0.1 (Debian)) id 1AlnuQ-0007hv-00 for ; Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:29:58 +0100 Received: from grant.b.edwards by dsl.comtrol.com with local (Gmexim 0.1 (Debian)) id 1AlnuQ-0007hv-00 for ; Tue, 08 Jan 2013 16:29:58 +0100 X-Injected-Via-Gmane: http://gmane.org/ To: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org From: Grant Edwards Subject: [gentoo-user] Re: OT: Fighting bit rot Date: Tue, 8 Jan 2013 15:29:28 +0000 (UTC) Message-ID: References: <50EB2BF7.4040109@binarywings.net> <20130108012016.2f02c68c@khamul.example.com> <50EBCA77.8030603@binarywings.net> X-Complaints-To: usenet@ger.gmane.org X-Gmane-NNTP-Posting-Host: dsl.comtrol.com User-Agent: slrn/pre1.0.0-18 (Linux) Precedence: bulk List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List-Id: Gentoo Linux mail X-BeenThere: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org Reply-to: gentoo-user@lists.gentoo.org X-Archives-Salt: 433846ef-28f6-4fad-92ca-3b5c0784fc99 X-Archives-Hash: d4c01db0a26babf15f7f905f8868da38 On 2013-01-08, Florian Philipp wrote: > Am 08.01.2013 00:20, schrieb Alan McKinnon: >> On Mon, 07 Jan 2013 21:11:35 +0100 >> Florian Philipp wrote: >> >>> Hi list! >>> >>> I have a use case where I am seriously concerned about bit rot [1] >>> and I thought it might be a good idea to start looking for it in my >>> own private stuff, too. > [...] >>> [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_rot >>> >>> Regards, >>> Florian Philipp >>> >> >> You are using a very peculiar definition of bitrot. >> >> "bits" do not "rot", they are not apples in a barrel. Bitrot usually >> refers to code that goes unmaintained and no longer works in the >> system it was installed. What definition are you using? > > That's why I referred to wikipedia, not the jargon file ;-) The wikipedia page to which you refer has _two_ definitions. The "uncommon" on you're using: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_rot#Decay_of_storage_media and the the common one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bit_rot#Problems_with_software I've heard the term "bit rot" for decades, but I've never heard the "decay of storage media" usage. It's always referred to unmaintained code that no longer words because of changes to tools or the surrounding environment. -- Grant Edwards grant.b.edwards Yow! Is something VIOLENT at going to happen to a gmail.com GARBAGE CAN?