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    SubjectRE: time_t size: The year 2038 bug Summary:
    On Mon, 10 Jan 2000, David Schwartz wrote:

    >
    > > This is my point.
    > > To plan that (probably someone else) will perform a critical
    > > fix in 25 years is ludicrous. The fix needs to be performed ASAP,
    > > so that userspace developers with broken code will have to
    > > fix it NOW, not in 25-30 years.
    >
    > This argument would have resulted in a massive cutback in the number of
    > horse-drawn carriages allowed in London in 1900, on fear that the streets
    > would be filled with horse-poop in 2000. It's as ridiculous then as it is
    > now.
    >
    > You want to postpone the pain as long as possible, for when the tools will
    > be there to fix it right.
    >
    > You make a measured schedule that will solve the problem before it's real,
    > and you adjust the schedule as technology advances. To try to solve 2038's
    > problems with 2000's technology is idiotic. You will undergo much pain for
    > solutions that probably won't even be in use in 2038.

    Rather then change the meaning of time_t, why not define an new value of
    epoch_t which is currently zero. That way software can be converted
    gradually and old software will continue to work unchanged. The
    infrastructure will use the epoch_t value to do things the right way.
    Given the recent Y2K scare, getting a label that says your software is
    2038 compliant should be powerful marketting material in 10-15 years.

    john


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