I'm not going to lie, the comment about "if they can use git" is the core of my problem with the arctic storage. I'm still wondering what the point is other than to make some meta point about how committed github is to preservation
_It will also include works which explain the many layers of technical foundations that make software possible: microprocessors, networking, electronics, semiconductors, and even pre-industrial technologies. This will allow the archive’s inheritors to better understand today’s world and its technologies, and may even help them recreate computers to use the archived software._
[1] https://github.blog/2020-07-16-github-archive-program-the-jo...
> The snapshot will consist of the HEAD of the default branch of each repository, minus any binaries larger than 100KB in size—depending on available space, repos with more stars may retain binaries. Each repository will be packaged as a single TAR file.
The guide included on each reel about how to access the data is public, git isn't involved in the process: https://github.com/github/archive-program/blob/master/GUIDE....
This is the method:
https://earth.esa.int/documents/1656065/3222865/170922-Piql-...
They should have said "2D Barcode" but they might be assuming an ignorant audience.
The data-model, however, is not. It is actually a very smart, mathematical (cryptographical) tree-structure[1].
I'm pretty sure some far future generation will be able to figure out the math behind a "git database". I'm actually more confident they will be able to do so, than your average "excel" or "winrar backup".
-- [1] I really started liking git and understanding what it all is about (and how to use the weird commandline --flags - or was is -flags or -f or -F or flags) after reading the Git From the Bottom Up book: https://jwiegley.github.io/git-from-the-bottom-up/