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TheThinker · 56-60, M
Nope, because now these things use four-digit years instead of two-digit years, so 10000AD is the next one that will be hit by that.
However there's a problem coming a LOT sooner than that. A timing standard used by a lot of current computer systems will run into problems in the year 2038. Why? Because that's when the number of seconds since 1st January 1970 (around 2 billion) will exceed the capability of a 32-bit computer to (easily) hold it.
You can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem
Although nowadays most things reserve 64 bits for the time value, I suspect that, given the number of existing devices that rely on 32-bit [i]time_t[/i]s (and even more so, the number of public data structures out there that have just a 32-bit space to hold time values), it will make Y2K look like a walk in the park.
Apparently it's already been causing problems with systems that have to project more than 19 years into the future (think mortgage calculations, for a start).
However there's a problem coming a LOT sooner than that. A timing standard used by a lot of current computer systems will run into problems in the year 2038. Why? Because that's when the number of seconds since 1st January 1970 (around 2 billion) will exceed the capability of a 32-bit computer to (easily) hold it.
You can read more at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Year_2038_problem
Although nowadays most things reserve 64 bits for the time value, I suspect that, given the number of existing devices that rely on 32-bit [i]time_t[/i]s (and even more so, the number of public data structures out there that have just a 32-bit space to hold time values), it will make Y2K look like a walk in the park.
Apparently it's already been causing problems with systems that have to project more than 19 years into the future (think mortgage calculations, for a start).
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@TheThinker When will 64-bit systems clock out? Lol, math problem extraordinaire!
TheThinker · 56-60, M
@sarabee1995 Thankfully that Wikipedia article has already done it for us:
[quote]Using a signed 64-bit value introduces a new wraparound date that is over twenty times greater than the estimated age of the universe: approximately 292 billion years from now, at 15:30:08 UTC on Sunday, 4 December 292,277,026,596.[/quote]
Phew!
[quote]Using a signed 64-bit value introduces a new wraparound date that is over twenty times greater than the estimated age of the universe: approximately 292 billion years from now, at 15:30:08 UTC on Sunday, 4 December 292,277,026,596.[/quote]
Phew!
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@TheThinker Hahaha! That's awesome! I figured it would be something like that. 32 extra decimal places does a lot in terms of scale!
But wait ... we have an estimated age of the universe?
But wait ... we have an estimated age of the universe?
TheThinker · 56-60, M
@sarabee1995 Yes, the current estimate is around 13.8 billion years old so far.
However, although 292 billion years will amply cover the future life of the Earth (which will get swallowed by the sun somewhere around 7.5-8 billion), it might not cover the end of the universe, depending on which theory about it turns out to be correct... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_far_future is fairly mind-blowing on this. :-)
However, although 292 billion years will amply cover the future life of the Earth (which will get swallowed by the sun somewhere around 7.5-8 billion), it might not cover the end of the universe, depending on which theory about it turns out to be correct... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_far_future is fairly mind-blowing on this. :-)
sarabee1995 · 26-30, F
@TheThinker Lol, my brother loves (and studies) this stuff. I called him last night and got a whole earful about it all. I have no idea how I didn't know the universe has an expiration date. 🤦
SomeMichGuy · M
@TheThinker Yes.