The Lost Manual Problem
Most digital decay happens not because the data is lost, but because the context is lost. We have the bits, but we don't know what they mean. External documentation (manuals, wikis) often becomes separated from the artifact.
Self-Documentation solves this by placing the "Rosetta Stone" inside the file itself. A JSON file is more self-documenting than a binary blob. A literate code file is more self-documenting than a minified script.
Code as Literature
Through the lens of Text / Textile, code is a form of writing meant to be read by humans first, and machines second. Self-documenting code uses clear logic and explanatory comments to bridge the gap between author intent and future reader understanding.