Unix Epoch, A 2038 Computing Ticking Time Bomb?

Question

Unix epoch is the initial time reference in computing.
January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 UTC, marks the start of time measurement in various systems.
The Unix epoch will reach its maximum value on 32-bit systems in 2038.

Do you think there are alternative timekeeping systems or reference points that could replace the Unix epoch in the future? Or is it destined to remain the bedrock of digital timekeeping for centuries to come?

Answer 1

Dr Melchisedec Bankole most modern systems have been upgraded to measure Unix time with signed 64-bit integers instead.

Answer 2

The only systems that still use 32-bit are business systems, which should upgrade anyway, and legacy systems, which are only kept at all for historical reasons. We would be fine with the current way; however, if computers continue for a long time, it would be usefull to have a more a more dynamic time system. In such a system, either a standard would define what times can be used and their coresponding numbers, which could fit in one byte for a very long time. Individual prototcols and OSes could work out the details for how they inplement such a standard. I think we should switch to such a system sooner rather than later so less applications would need to be changed. I don’t think we will actually change it any time soon.

Answer 3

Apple has already fixed this for the next 2 billion years. Interesting thread here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/8v142p/cmv_computers_should_use_tai_as_time_reference/

Of course that doesn't mean that we would not see a radically new computer architecture, where this problem does not exist, or maybe manifests in a completely different way. Wondering about quantum computers. Which can become a reality much sooner before the 2 billion years expire.

Answer 4

That doesn’t seem to be a 2 billion year fix.