Computer bugs in the year 2000
jrb at wdl1.UUCP
jrb at wdl1.UUCP
Tue Jan 22 02:36:26 AEST 1985
Referring to an article on Julian Dates by Gordon King in Dr
Dobb's Journal #80 (June 1983) pages 66-70.
Most computer systems use some form of modified Julian date
internally because it is compact to store and simple arithmetic
can be used on them.
A Julian date algorithm for a 16 bit computer is valid for ~179.4
years (65,536 days) This is used as an offset from a base year,
usually 1900. Such an algorithm would then stop working in 2079.
The base year has to be chosen fairly carefully because of leap
years.
John R Blaker
UUCP: ...!fortune!wdl1!jrb
ARPA: jrb at FORD-WDL1
and blaker at FORD-WDL2
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