Software archiving
Software archiving involves not only the software itself but other factors such as the documentation associated with it and the source code. Obsolete software often has current copyright restrictions in force, which makes copying for preservation problematic. The issue is further compounded in that original software is often stored on magnetic media which has a limited lifespan. Software archiving can be used in support of digital preservation strategies such as emulation.
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Internet Archive Gets DMCA Exemption To Help Archive Vintage Software
Internet Archive
(Date Created: 2003)
(United States of America)
- This web page features links to Brewster Kahle's speech and correspondence in applying for exemptions to the Copyright Act so to allow archiving of software. Although focussed on the U.S. and the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) the issues are relevant to other copyright legislations.
- http://www.archive.org/about/dmca.php
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Playing History with Games : Steps Towards Historical Archives of Computer Gaming
Lowood, Henry
(Date Created: 14 Jun 2004)
- The unique problems of preserving computer games arise because they are both dynamic and interactive and function on a variety of platforms, including hand held devices, mobile phones, cartridges and desk top computers. This article describes the development of the Machinima Archives and some of the challenges in long term preservation of computer games. The article describes the nature of computer games, in terms of technology and as performance, the challenges for preservation and some curatorial models. It also notes several projects, such as CLASP (Classic Software Preservation Project) at the Internet Archive, working on emulation, game software reformatting or conservation of games artifacts.
- http://aic.stanford.edu/sg/emg/library/pdf/lowood/Lowood-EMG2004.pdf
- Presented at the Electronic Media Group, American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, AIC Annual Meeting 2004, Portland, Oregon, 14 June 2004.
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Preserving Software: Why and How
Zabolitzky, John G
(Date Created: 13 Sep 2002)
- In this article the author highlights the importance of preserving both hardware and software developments so that future generations have a greater knowledge and understanding of computer history. As well as providing an overview of why it is necessary to preserve software and how such preservation can be achieved, the author stresses that the preservation of source code format software should be an immediate goal of organizations and suggests ways for this to be achieved such as the creation of a list of national heritage software.
- http://www.cbi.umn.edu/iterations/zabolitzky.html
- Available in Iterations: An Interdesciplinary Journal of Software History., 1, 13 September 2002, pp. 1-8, ISSN 1541-843X. Also available in PDF version
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Prowling The Ruins Of Ancient Software
Williams, Sam
(Date Created: 30 Jun 2003)
(United States of America)
- This article looks at the growing concerns related to the obsolescence of software programs. Many software specialists are claiming that losing software history can be referred to as the “digital dark age” and liken the roles of software preservation specialists as archaeologists. In order to overcome these concerns, a seminar on software archaeology and preservation at the newly reopened Computer History Museum in California, USA is discussed. The Museum seeks to preserve the artefacts and interview the developers of software programs for the benefit of future generations.
- http://archive.salon.com/tech/feature/2003/07/30/software_archaeology/
index_np.html
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Response to "Preserving Software: Why and How"
Kaplan, Elisabeth
(Date Created: 13 Sep 2002)
(United States of America)
- This article briefly explores the measures that have been undertaken in the USA to ensure that software is preserved, including the activities of institutions in the 1980s and 1990s. The article also stresses stresses the lack of national software archives. Instead, many institutions in the USA - such as the Smithsonian and Stanford University - have started to collect, not the software itself, but the documentation of the software development such as personal papers, oral histories and audiovisual materials, as it was considered a more economically viable option.
- http://www.cbi.umn.edu/iterations/kaplan.html
- Available in Iterations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Software History, 1, 13 September, 2002, pp. 1-3, ISSN 1541-843X. Also available in PDF version.
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Projects and Case Studies
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- Classic Software Preservation Project (CLASP)
Internet Archive
(Date Created: 2004)
- This project is funded by the Internet Archive and commenced in January 2004. The aim of the project is to permanently archive classic, obsolete retail software from the late 1970s through the early 1990s. Although the software is not publicly available due to copyright restrictions, there is a database of information on the archived software. The project will also collaborate with the Classic Amiga Preservation Society on developing universal standards for software archiving.
- http://www.archive.org/details/clasp
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Museum of Software
School of Computer Science, University of St. Andrews
(Last Updated: 2004)
(United Kingdom)
- "Although still in development, it is envisaged that this Museum will collect and maintain out of date software. This involves obtaining a machine-readable copy of the software, translating any obscure coding to make it intelligible, and, once the software has been rendered readable, storing it. Once this has been achieved, it is planned to exhibit and use the software in a variety of ways. "
- http://web.archive.org/web/20061214065156/http://mos.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/
- Site reorganised Wayback URL provided for historical interest.
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Related Topics: Web archiving
Broader Topic:
Archiving
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