#105 The 2038 Problem

#105 The 2038 Problem

Author: David Kopec, Rebecca Kopec November 14, 2022 Duration: 8:44

On January 19, 2038, certain non-updated legacy systems that use Unix time will roll their dates around to December 13, 1901. In Unix, time is recorded as the number of seconds since January 1, 1970. Because a signed 32-bit integer is used to record this value on many legacy systems, they will run out of seconds in 2038 (a signed 32-bit integer can record numbers up to 2,147,483,647, and that's the number of seconds between January 1 1970 at 12:00:00 AM and January 19, 2038 at 3:14:07 AM). Many legacy operating systems, programming languages, and databases that use signed 32-bit integers to record Unix time are still in use in non-updated embedded systems. In this episode we explain the problem and its potential implications.

Show Notes

Follow us on Twitter @KopecExplains.

Theme “Place on Fire” Copyright 2019 Creo, CC BY 4.0

Find out more at http://kopec.live


Ever wondered how the apps on your phone actually work, or what really happens when you click "download"? Kopec Explains Software is here to demystify those everyday digital mysteries. Hosted by David and Rebecca Kopec, this conversation breaks down complex, software-related ideas into clear, relatable concepts you can grasp. The focus isn't on jargon or textbook definitions, but on building a genuine, intuitive feel for how technology operates. Each episode picks apart a different facet of the software world, from the fundamentals of coding to the ethics of artificial intelligence, translating technical subjects into plain English. You'll come away not just with new knowledge, but with a clearer framework for understanding the digital systems that shape our lives. It’s a straightforward, engaging resource for anyone with curiosity about the technology they use daily, whether you're a seasoned professional looking for a fresh perspective or a complete novice starting from scratch. Tune into the podcast for thoughtful discussions that make the vast and often intimidating landscape of software feel accessible and genuinely interesting.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Kopec Explains Software
Podcast Episodes
#48 What's it Like Studying Computer Science in College? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:29
What is it like to study computer science (CS) at the undergraduate level? In this episode we dive into the qualities you need to succeed, the curriculum that most programs follow, and the likely outcomes of earning your…
#47 The C++ Programming Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:00
Bjarne Stroustrup originally built C++ in the early 1980s as a successor to C with support for object-oriented programming. Since then, C++ has evolved in a myriad of ways, adding both features and complexity. It's found…
#46 What is The Internet of Things? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:02
It seems like every electric device that we buy today is connected to the Internet. This movement is known as the Internet of Things, or IoT for short. Some people think "Internet of Things" is a specific term, but the t…
#45 Two Software Disasters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:36
While software has reduced human error in many industries, when software errors are made they can have tragic consequences. The Boeing 737 MAX crashes, occurring shortly after the introduction of the plane, were due in p…
#44 Google v. Oracle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:11
Last week the Supreme Court of the United States made a decision in the case known as Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc. The case centers on whether the use of certain Java technology in Android infringed on Oracle's cop…
#43 The Lisp Programming Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:55
Lisp is the second oldest programming language still in wide use. Designed by John McCarthy in 1958, it introduced several new ideas to the field of programming languages, including but not limited to homoiconicity (code…
#42 What was DOS? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:22
Microsoft became the dominant player in personal computer operating systems through the release of MS-DOS for the IBM PC. Microsoft would go on to license DOS to the many manufacturers building PC clones, eventually reac…
#41 How to Pick an Internet Service Provider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:16
Selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP) can be difficult if you don't know the terminology. How is connection speed measured? How does download speed differ from upload speed? What is latency? What's a data cap? We…
#40 What is the Memory Hierarchy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:26
A modern computer doesn't just have one type of memory. It has disk, RAM, CPU caches, CPU registers, and much more. In this episode we dive into the different types of memory and how they work together. We delineate each…

«1...678910