I can no longer trust any new software

The current rage in “decomp,” which is an insulting term to anyone who has ever actually decompiled something, has seemingly instantly affected/infected all my hobbies.

Self hosting? Decades-old software is out the window thanks to the latest vibe-coded dredge to be abandoned next week.

Music? Your favorite synth or groovebox has a new firmware! Rejoice in its ability to rejuvenate old, abandoned, and locked-down hardware... or dismay at the new ways to brick beloved tools while devouring a small Kansas town?

If you peruse Reddit, you’ll notice how different communities embrace this in different ways. Self-hosting has its AI advocates but largely is frustrated and done being excited about new stuff. But musicians are tech doofuses a lot of the time, and I don’t think the people delighted at the new vibe-coded firmware for the Novation Circuit are really even thinking about how it was made or what the consequences are.

I’d love to be excited about software that lets me use old and abandoned IoT devices, curb the spying by my TV, or even let farmers escape the thrall of John Deere, but it’s not really a great trade, is it?