ArsTechnica recently published an article about the problems of old software in the age of cloud computing. In many ways, cloud computing makes our lives easier than ever before. Data input on one device is often seamlessly available on other devices, making it easy to switch from desktop to laptop to smartphone. However, the cloud is problematic in terms of preservation. Cloud computing makes software completely dependent on a single point in the cloud, and there is currently no mechanism in place for preserving this software. “Cloud rot” can become a serious problem for the future. Already some of the very first Web apps, like the original versions of Gmail and Google Docs, are most likely gone.

You can read the complete ArsTechnica article here.