64bit timestamp
deeptech71 at gmail.com
deeptech71 at gmail.com
Fri Mar 23 19:31:05 UTC 2007
UNIX Timestamp:
32 bits, starts from year 1970, ticks every second
capable of representing the time from 1970 to 2106
'til then, computers will change
sufficient for file timestamps, comparing file times
Let's see what 64 bits can do!
2^64, that is 18446744073709551616 different values
18446744073709551616 / (1000000microseconds/value) / (60seconds/minute) /
(60minutes/hour) / (24hours/day) / (365.2475days/year) / (2, for signed time
values) = +-292273 years in the future/present, every microsecond
OK, presicion is too much, however, when very fast x64 computers are developed,
programs should distinguish time between the same millisecond. Redunant for
filesystems.. who would require 300K years? who would edit files every microsecond?
NTP has 136 years with such precision, that the processors these days cant handle.
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