  Scientific discovery is mediated by ideas that, after being formulated in
hypotheses, can be tested, validated, and quantified before they eventually
lead to accepted concepts. Computer-mediated discovery in astrophysics is no
exception, but antiquated code that is only intelligible to scientists who were
involved in writing it is holding up scientific discovery in the field. A bold
initiative is needed to modernize astrophysics code and make it transparent and
useful beyond a small group of scientists. (abridged)
