eli5: 2039 32 bit integer overflow

Question

eli5: 2039 32 bit integer overflow

In: 0

Answer 1

It’s 2038 not 2039. It’s similar in a way to the Y2K issue. Time calculation can be very important for computers, for calculating loops, when certain events occur, calendar date, etc. Linux and Unix computers had used a 32-bit value as a counter, specifying the seconds since Jan 1, 1970. It’s actually a signed value, so on 19 January 2038 it goes negative (bit 31 is set), due to the way computers calculate positive/negative numbers.