Why are still not at 64 bits [was Can't figure out Firefox

[Ben Scott]

On 2/14/07, Ken D'Ambrosio <ken at jots.org> wrote:
> 1a) Though, of course, there will be one other 64-bit application to
> become of considerable importance to the *nix community by, oh, 2038.
> Hopefully 32-bit will be mooter than moot by then.

  Depending on the situation, it may be possible to work around
problem of time_t being implemented as a 32-bit signed integer in ways
other than changing it to a 64-bit signed integer.  (Just like it was
often possible to fix Y2K issues without switching to four-digit year
storage.)  In particular, if the code never looks at dates before 1
Jan 1970, switching to a 32-bit UNsigned integer should gain an
additional 68 years with only code patching (no data changes).

  Yah, I know, nobody cares.  But it's do this or work.  :)

-- Ben