Time is a Social Construct

Embark on a fascinating journey through time in this JSConf US 2019 talk. Discover why time-related programming challenges are among the most perplexing issues developers face, despite their relatively recent origin. Explore the concept of time as a social construct, invented to facilitate train scheduling and global communication. Delve into the historical context behind timezones, daylight savings time, and the complexities of international time management. Learn why seemingly simple solutions like "just use UTC for everything" may not always be the best approach. Gain valuable insights into the historical reasons behind common time-related programming errors, such as automated emails being sent a day early. While not offering a definitive solution to all time-related programming issues, this 27-minute talk provides essential context for understanding and addressing these challenges in your development work.

Time is a Social Construct - Daniel Cousineau - JSConf US 2019