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It's by far the most common phrase I've heard used to wipe+reinstall a system in the past 20 years? 25 years? Not just the most popular colloquialism, the most popular phrase, period.

My experience is US/West Coast/Tech companies, for reference.

I’ve spent 20+ years in tech in roles ranging from IT to engineering at west coast and midwest companies and this thread is the first time I’ve heard “nuke and pave”.

At the places I’ve been, systems got “wiped” or “re-imaged” most commonly. I suspect this terminology is hyper local.

In IT (BBS's) since 1993 or so. Owned a computer store and an ISP. New Mexico. First time I've heard it as well.

I've worked in tech in the Bay Area for 30 years, started in IT at UC Berkeley and then at Sendmail. Never heard this term before. We always "wiped and re-imaged".

I've heard it said in relation to getting a new laptop with manufacturer cruft and using Dave's Boot And Nuke to do some cleanup: https://dban.org/

Probably because it is a leftover from the 1990s/2000s when you had to completely reinstall your os. That’s no longer necessary, as long as you’re not using windows.

Windows hasn't needed it either for a long time.