Investigating why Steam started picking a random font (blog.pkh.me)

Article summary

The author's Steam client started using a random font after they changed their system clock to 2030 and then 2040 to achieve specific game achievements. This caused issues with the fontconfig library, which is 32-bit and cannot handle dates after 2038. The author had to remount their file systems and update the access times of affected files to fix the issue. The problem was caused by the Year 2038 problem, which affects 32-bit systems that use Unix timestamps.

Main themes

• Year 2038 problem
• 32-bit software limitations
• Steam achievements
• System time manipulation
• Fontconfig library issues
• Windows vs Linux compatibility

What commenters say

• Some commenters suggested using tools like Steam Achievement Manager to unlock achievements without messing with system time.
• The Year 2038 problem is expected to cause significant issues with 32-bit software and systems.
• Windows may not be immune to the Year 2038 problem, despite its native API handling dates differently.
• The use of 32-bit software on 64-bit systems can still cause issues due to the Year 2038 problem.
• Some commenters shared their own experiences with similar issues caused by incorrect or future dates.
• The font library's use of access time is unnecessary and contributed to the problem.
• The issue highlights the importance of testing and preparing for the Year 2038 problem.
• Some commenters believe that the Year 2038 problem will be less severe than the Y2K bug due to increased awareness and preparation.