Backward Compatibility

In a software or electronics company, almost all time spent is used communicating, to ensure the product meets changing requirements, then for all sorts of reasons, including the short memory of human beings. Besides this necessary handicap, the rest of the time - which could be used to make a better product - is largely used on one thing: backward compatibility.

Each change must be accompanied by the assurance that it doesn’t break what already exists. Thus, several outdated parts must survive far too long, simply because some people live in the past, or don’t have time to update their software tools.

Any technological innovation is therefore slowed by the fear of losing money, caused by users unhappy with advances that are too fast. Let’s cite character encoding as an example.

ASCII was the first widely used method to represent writing. Although a more efficient method was invented, especially for languages other than English, since with ASCII, “it’s easier,” most new software still uses this archaic method, forcing all new software to support it, doubling the work and headaches of conversions.

(FICTION) Guidance for: * Backward Compatibility * : from the novel Interverted

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