Systems and methods for selecting digital data for archival

A method of automatically constructing a platform-independent decoder for encoded digital data encoded in a particular format, the method comprising:

• receiving the encoded digital data at a decoding functionality selector;
• receiving a selection of decoding functionalities from a user from an input device;
• utilizing the decoding functionality selector to initiate a process for identifying one or more platform-independent decoding functionalities for decoding the encoded digital data from a library of platform-independent decoding functionalities in accordance with the received selection;
• utilizing the decoding functionality selector to select the identified one or more platform-independent decoding functionalities;
• utilizing a decoding functionality generator in communication with the decoding functionality selector to generate at least a functional portion of the platform-independent decoder, including the one or more selected decoding functionalities, based at least in part on the automatic selection of the one or more decoding functionalities by the decoding functionality selector;
• utilizing a decoding functionality verifier to:
• instantiate the at least functional portion of the platform-independent decoder,
• test the ability of the instantiated functional portion of the platform-independent decoder to accurately decode at least a predetermined portion of the encoded digital data, and
• based at least in part on a passing result of the test, generate a signal configured to cause at least one of the decoding functionality generator and the decoding functionality verifier to output the at least functional portion of the platform-independent decoder and the decoded predetermined portion of the encoded digital data.