[gregjor]

More like the next three years. Most software has a short lifespan. A lot of software goes obsolete, or requirements change, before it ever gets released -- a negative lifespan in a way.

A few software systems have long lifespans: Unix, Windows, Oracle. Those have undergone continuous development and don't resemble their original versions when you compare the code.

If you want to work on code that will apparently live forever in production, try the IRS or the California DMV.