Posts by Paul Crawford

Re: 2038

What seems to be missing here is the original topic - trying to fix 2038 in existing 32-bit Linux programs.

The only proper fix (i.e. works as before with signed time_t and works beyond 2038) is to go 64-bit for time_t at least (other integers can be still be 32-bit if you are targeting 32-bit MCUs etc). But that needs a re-compile of the OS and the applications (Perl interpreter in your case). And beyond that it also requires anything that maps time_t in to some structure to accommodate that. Fine for internal memory structures that are re-defined on compile to use 64-bit time_t but no use for code that has time in files, shared memory, etc, so a re-compile for 64-bit is not going to work that easily unless the program already has a debugged 64-bit version.

My point was to fix / fudge existing compiled 32-bit code the least-worst option is to make the Linux system libraries treat time_t as unsigned so it runs 1970 to 2106. Yes it breaks pre-1970 date conversion (but that was never defined as working anyway) but there are no better alternatives. Changing the epoch (even dynamically via environment variable per program, etc) will also risk breaking code that has pre-compiled time-points based on 1970, etc. If your machine is running day-to-day, and not working for very old dates, going unsigned for the internal conversion will work well enough. But there will always be something that breaks if you change it, is that any worse than everything breaking post-2038?

Well they have the stick of withdrawing Google's "essential" core code if they don't play. After all, that is the reason that an Android fork has had so little backing because (as MS found out the expensive way) no one buys the OS - they buy the phone for the apps that run on it.

Re: Torvalds declared: "Don't use ZFS. It's that simple."

Torvalds comment seem to miss a key point: you don't usually chose ZFS for performance but for (1) data integrity, and (2) low-overhead snapshots (another data integrity plus if faced with user mistakes or user-level ransom-ware).

BtrFS promises similar, but to my limited knowledge is not nearly as good as ZFS for now (also ironically it was started by Oracle to have a ZFS alternative).

Re: Harder is better.

Definitely holding it right

Even when I have a 'good' 4G signal in the city I often get rubbish performance. I doubt that fixing that needs 5G and its not important enough to me to spend much money on it either way.

And probably another Autonomy-style trial when folk realise a foolish take-over has not made everyone massively richer?

Re: "using green hydrogen peroxide oxidiser and kerosene"

HTP (high test peroxide) and kerosene is green compared to the other long-life liquid rocket fuel of nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as favoured by, for example, the Indians who basically use a reliable modified ICBM to launch stuff.

Yes, liquid oxygen (LOX) is nicer as a oxidiser, but you can't really use it (or other cryogenic fuels) in the UK very well as you only have a short window to fuel the rocket and launch, so you need fairly dependable weather. ALL such oxidisers are bad in large amounts, but nothing compared to some stuff that was contemplated in the distant past (just google for chlorine triflouride if you feel brave).

Re: Gmail must die.

Yahoo still do POP3 access - slightly unreliably of course!

MS (outlook) also provide 'free' and POP3 access but no (obvious) means to bypass the web interface to check for spam (same issue as google)

I use A&A email service for a small fee (couple of quid per month) and they offer IMAP and POP3 and you can set up a filter in the web interface to force spam-detected stuff in back to the inbox so you always see it in your email client. https://support.aa.net.uk/Category:Email

If not UK-based you might want to look at other small-fee email providers like fastmail, etc.

And made all the more disgraceful by the fact they have dragged this out for 20 years.

Those in charge should face prosecution for malice, no doubts.

Re: Not on the wall socket

Very much this =>

The problems reported in this thread are almost certainly down to incompetents running tests that are inappropriate for the class of equipment. We had our technician do the PAT testing on all equipment, including very expensive lab test gear using one of the fairly basic Seaward testers without any problems.

And as other commentards have alluded to, the test interval "depends". On stuff like servers, fixed PCs that no one can trip on the cables, etc, then when new* and at 3 year intervals is probably fine. For equipment subject to moving but benign environments like kettles, laptop power supplies, etc, then yearly makes sense. For stuff with a high risk of damage or more serious risk if they fail like frequently used extension leads, building site power tools, etc, then 3 months might be more appropriate. Also as already mentioned the inspection for damage or an incorrect fuse rating is critical!

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/priced/hsg107.pdf

[*] I don't trust suppliers (more so if folk bring in their own or 2nd hand stuff) and you also then have a PAT database that doubles up as an asset register, etc.

Re: Gotta say

You have a point and there is always the Samaritans (https://www.samaritans.org/) ready to listen hence another commentard's reference to the free number 116 123

The background to them is, of course, tragic as well and something that ought to be rammed down the throats of any politician, etc, who wants to control access to valid sexual information. From the Wikipedia page:

Samaritans was founded in 1953 by Chad Varah, a vicar in the Church of England Diocese of London. His inspiration came from an experience he had had some years earlier as a young curate in the Diocese of Lincoln. He had taken a funeral for a girl of fourteen who had killed herself because she feared she had contracted an STD. In reality, she was menstruating.

Most who joke here are doing what is common, dealing with the horrors of real life through humour and not actually meaning any harm to those with mental health issues.

I just had to search for Bad Dragon and lo! It also makes hentai / alien tentacle dildos! You have been warned...

Re: end UK dependance on GPS?

You don't need a local accurate clock: with 3 satellites you do, but with 4 you can solve for position and time. All that this would do is eliminate the need for one degree of the solution, but you really want more than the minimum anyway because (a) some might close together leading to the "geometric dilution of precision" and poorer fix accuracy and (b) with N+1 you can tell if one satellite is flaky, and with N+2 you can tell which one it is.

So really all that you get from an accurate local clock is a benefit if you are using GPS for time sync (important for mobile phones, DTV, etc) as you can run for longer between synchronisation times. What you don't get is navigation without some form of triangulation (even if star tracking...)

Re: "The problem is complex"

Another solution that might appeal to governments is a "tracker tax" so none of this EU-style "do you consent to cookies/blah-blah-bla?" pop-up crap, but every aspect of tracking is taxed and, of course, companies must fully declare their income or face criminal charges.

No, Deep Fake is worrying when any fsktard with 30 seconds spare can generate them.

A bit like drones in that respect, old school RC planes and helicopters took skill and experience to master, new drones can be used by any moron (and some are).

Re: Nope, never saw this coming

"This typically means that your laptop or phone behind your home router gets a different IP every day, the first part of the address stays the same, the second part varies. How big the size of the static part is compared to the variable part varies per ISP. If they give you a measly /64 a different section will change than if they give you a /56 or a /48."

Given the HUGE size of IPv6 don't you think it is trivial to just bin addresses in such sized blocks? After all it is only YOU who is populating the allocated block. Yes, it might be harder to track people in your home individually (just as for IPv4 NAT) but your home use is simple to track and not per-home swapping to worry about.

Re: Kudos!

I will add my appreciation to that...

Re: IBM rejected any attempt to characterise those changes as age discrimination

Chronologically defeated, judging by the outcome today.

Re: I'm going to quote this!

Which bank? The sperm one?

Re: DAMN YOU DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION!!!!

Whenever you hear the word "transformation" in any management speak you should expect the worst. It is a by-word for pain and often for little on no gain.

Almost certainly the issue for our French cousins is much like the NHS and others: where critical systems are not well (if at all) segregated from those with email/web/USB access for various reasons. Not sending on proper network planning, firewall settings and disaster containment/recovery are likely to be the big factors. Yes, it is also often a Windows-only issue, but a lot of essential software or very high value hardware (MRI scanners, etc) needs that and so you have to deal with it but limiting what happens when either a zero-day exploit is used or (more likely) someone makes a dumb mistake.

Re: But then you'll forget why you bought it

Not very often.

The OP's point is there are different way to end oneself, but guns are a very, VERY, effective first attempt...