Re: coreutils-8.14.116-1e18d on Linux/HPPA

[Bruno Haible]

Pádraig Brady wrote:
> In this case I don't think it's a practical issue because:
> 
> 1. The failure mode is only of practical concern close to 2038

This is true.

I have to remind, though, that the test suite is not only some random piece
of code. Rather, it verifies the contract between the program and its users.
This contract is written in its documentation.

Each time you modify a unit test, you have to ask yourself the questions:
  - Am I modifying the contract between the program and its users?
  - Should I modify the documentation accordingly?

In this case, the answer to both questions is yes. Namely, you have to add
the sentence: "Timeouts beyond the year 2038 are not supported on some
platforms."

Bruno