You'd make a mistake if you think the 2038 problem will
magically resolve itself if time_t is suddenly a 64 bit
integer. If it were that simple, wouldn't you think many
operating systems already had done so? Some obvious problems:
- Unless all systems switch from 32 bit time_t to 64 bit time_t
at the same time, you will have problems when two systems
share information (say, using NFS).
- Modyfing your OS to use a 64 bit time_t doesn't magically
change your data. Your file system uses 32 bit timestamps.
What do you think would happen if you upgrade your OS to
use 64 bit time_t, and it starts assuming your inodes are
12 bytes longer?
2038 is not going to be disaster, unless too many will think
that just upgrading to a 64 bit time_t will magically solve
all problems. (If it were that simple, we could have let
localtime() return a 4 digit year to avoid Y2K.)
Some time ago, I saw the timetable SUN is going to use to
introduce a 64 bit time_t value. It's going to be a 10+ year
traject.
Abigail