The Library of Dead Code
A Wisdom Archive is closer to a traditional library than a software repository. It contains:
- Source Code: Printed or readable text of the logic.
- Post-Mortems: Essays on why the project failed or died.
- Design Documents: The original intent behind the artifact.
This path acknowledges that some things cannot be saved as living systems. Instead of spending infinite energy trying to emulate a broken server, we extract the wisdom (the lessons) and let the body (the server) go.
Field Notes
The "Read-Only" Future: Most software eventually becomes a Petribyte. The Wisdom Archive ensures that even if we can't play the game, we can read its rules and understand its cultural impact. It is the difference between a zoo (Seed Bank) and a natural history museum (Wisdom Archive).