What makes an archive worth keeping

An archive isn't a backup. It's a promise that the past will still answer when you call.

Why this matters today

Open formats, redundant copies, predictable structure, and a README in the root. Skip any one and the archive starts decaying the day you stop touching it.

An archive is a letter to a future stranger — make it legible.

In practice

Here is the part that turns theory into a habit:

• Start small — a single file, a single page, a single test.
• Measure twice. Trust the numbers, not the vibe.
• Keep an undo path. Reversible decisions buy you courage.

A note on tooling

Every tool on this site runs in your browser unless we say otherwise. That changes the trade-offs: nothing to upload, nothing to retain, nothing to leak. The downside is a small ceiling on file size and a dependency on your device's CPU — both acceptable for most editorial workflows.

Takeaway

The best archive is the one a stranger could navigate without you.