millennium bug
Century-rollover computer problem
The millennium bug was a widespread computer problem anticipated at the turn of the year 2000.
Early programmers had stored years as two digits to save memory, meaning systems might interpret "00" as 1900 rather than 2000—potentially causing failures in banking, aviation, and infrastructure.
Massive remediation efforts prevented most predicted disasters, leading some to dismiss the threat as overblown.
Also called Y2K.
Start of third millennium
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
- computer systemsInterconnected electronic processing equipment
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
- COBOLElderly business-oriented programming language
legacy code · date format · compliance · software update · embedded systems · epoch · timekeeping · Gregorian calendar
Uncontrollable emotional excess
- alarmismNeedless raising of fears
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- doomsdayProphesied world's end
- apocalypseTotal civilizational collapse
overreaction · paranoia · anxiety · scaremongering · hoax · sensationalism · stockpiling · survivalism
Large centralized computer system
- COBOLElderly business-oriented programming language
- outdatedNo longer in use
- antiquatedOld and outdated
- legacy systemOutdated tech still operating
deprecated · punch cards · obsolete · archaic · retrofitting · technical debt
Material covering damage
- updateNew version or information
- fixRepair or solution
- bugfixRepair to flawed software
- debuggingError removal from programs
testing · audit · assessment · certification · compliance · upgrade · replacement · contingency planning
Failure to operate properly
- errorFault in communication
- crashSudden violent impact
- failureLack of success
- breakdownFailure or decomposition
system failure · misfire · anomaly · freeze · hang · disruption · software bug · overflow
2000
Start of third millennium
- midnightTwelve o'clock at night
- computer systemsInterconnected electronic processing equipment
- mainframeLarge centralized computer system
COBOL · legacy code · date format · compliance · software update · embedded systems · epoch · timekeeping · Gregorian calendar · systemic risk
hysteria
Uncontrollable emotional excess
- alarmismNeedless raising of fears
- fearmongeringDeliberately spreading exaggerated threats
- doomsdayProphesied world's end
apocalypse · overreaction · paranoia · anxiety · scaremongering · hoax · sensationalism · stockpiling · survivalism · bunker
mainframe
Large centralized computer system
- COBOLElderly business-oriented programming language
- outdatedNo longer in use
- antiquatedOld and outdated
legacy system · deprecated · punch cards · obsolete · archaic · retrofitting · technical debt
patch
Material covering damage
debugging · testing · audit · assessment · certification · compliance · upgrade · replacement · contingency planning · risk management
malfunction
Failure to operate properly
breakdown · system failure · misfire · anomaly · freeze · hang · disruption · software bug · overflow · logic error
- millennium phrasesY2K
- calendar quirksleap day, leap year, intercalation, Metonic cycle, precession
- Year 2000 technology problemY2K, date format, COBOL, legacy systems, mainframe
millennium bughardware failure
mechanical breakdown · manufacturing defect · hard drive crash · power surge damage · power surge
postmillennialism, millennium, millennial, millennia, millennialism, postmillennial