Vivek Haldar has an observation about the expected lifetime of Emacs:
Safe to say that at this point #emacs has gone Lindy.https://t.co/HjsfWmE3ug
— Vivek Haldar (@vivekhaldar) June 12, 2022
The Lindy Effect postulates that the longer some (nonperishable) entity has existed, the more likely that it will continue to exist. It’s a bit more technical so follow the link to Wikipedia if you want the details.
Nothing lasts forever, of course, so even the mighty Emacs will eventually fade away but not, if you believe in Lindy’s law, anytime soon. It make sense if you think about it: the fact that Emacs has lasted as long as it has means that it’s meeting the needs of its users and continuing to adapt to new needs so its chances for continued support from its current users and its being embraced by new users is good.