The Linux Kernel Is Still Rectifying The Year 2038 Problem

[L_A_G]

Definitely something that needs to be addressed, but it's not like the panic a lot of people got into in 1999...

Could you simulate software bugs by setting the OS time to 2039? Might be a good idea to make a test case in CI.

My understanding is that this is exactly what they did to find Y2K bugs in software. However the main difference between Y2K and the 2038 problem is that the Y2K problem was an issue for applications and not the underlying OSs while the 2038 problem is exactly the other way around. In other words you just need to fix the OS and you're fine and don't have to go for the massive application bug hunting that took place with the Y2K problem.

[cen1]

A lot of software probably won't be fixed and funny stuff will happen in 2038. I hope to live and see that day. Hopefully no nuclear meltdowns tho.

Could you simulate software bugs by setting the OS time to 2039? Might be a good idea to make a test case in CI.

[timofonic]

I would love to know when Real Time Linux patches will get merged upstream/vanilla. Please make it happen!

https://wiki.linuxfoundation.org/realtime/start

"If the Linux Kernel was written in Rust that would not happen"

sqn!

It's integer overflow, how would Rust have helped with that?

[F.Ultra]

Just kicking the can down the road. Now we have a Y292B problem.

Clearly the only real solution is to come up with a variable length date structure.

Beats Windows with their Y28K problem though :-)

[smitty3268]

64 Bits will get us to the year 292,471,208,630.

Just kicking the can down the road. Now we have a Y292B problem.

Clearly the only real solution is to come up with a variable length date structure.

[andrei_me]

sqn!

Like in portuguese "só que não"?

[doublez13]

"If the Linux Kernel was written in Rust that would not happen"

sqn!

I can't see it taking more than a cycle or two to rewrite everything in Rust.

[c117152]

Quick! Before it's too late!

[JustRob]

64 Bits will get us to the year 292,471,208,630.