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Legacy Systems

/ˈlɛɡ.ə.si ˈsɪs.təmz/ The Foundation Layer
Definition Old methods, technologies, or software that remain in use. Often used pejoratively in tech to mean "obsolete" or "technical debt." However, in Myceloom, "Legacy" is reclaimed as a term of honor. A legacy system is a survivor—a proven solution that has persisted through time.

The Survivor's Bias

If a COBOL mainframe is still running global banking after 50 years, it is not "broken"—it is arguably the most successful piece of software in existence. We respect Legacy Systems as the bedrock of digital civilization.

Chesterton's Fence

Before tearing down a legacy system (the "fence"), one must understand why it was built in the first place. Myceloom advocates for a "conservationist" approach to legacy code: refactoring with respect, wrapping rather than ripping, and acknowledging the Tacit Knowledge embedded within the messy lines of old code.

Stratigraphy (Related Concepts)
Stewardship Archaeobyte Tacit Knowledge