[PATCH v2] manual: clarify _FILE_OFFSET_BITS Y2038 implications [BZ #34095]

[Shamil Abdulaev]

Changes in v2:
- Instead of removing the Y2038 note, clarify its relationship to
_FILE_OFFSET_BITS
- Explicitly document the transitive dependency: _TIME_BITS=64
requires _FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64
- Address feedback from Mark Harris that the existing wording causes confusion

---

The existing paragraph warning about _FILE_OFFSET_BITS default changes
due to Y2038 is correct but confusing, as it does not explicitly state
why time_t concerns affect _FILE_OFFSET_BITS.

Clarify that _TIME_BITS=64 (needed for Y2038 safety) requires
_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64, so when systems migrate to 64-bit time_t by
default, _FILE_OFFSET_BITS will also need to default to 64, even for
applications that do not handle large files.

This addresses the confusion noted in the bug report while keeping the
warning in place, as the transitive dependency makes it relevant to
the _FILE_OFFSET_BITS documentation.

Signed-off-by: Shamil Abdulaev <ashamil435@gmail.com>
---
 manual/creature.texi | 11 +++++++----
 1 file changed, 7 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/manual/creature.texi b/manual/creature.texi
index 90f9f8e35b..1a2c5e8f9d 100644
--- a/manual/creature.texi
+++ b/manual/creature.texi
@@ -161,10 +161,13 @@ under different names (as they are with
@code{_LARGEFILE64_SOURCE}).
 Instead the old function names now reference the new functions, e.g., a
 call to @code{fseeko} now indeed calls @code{fseeko64}.

 If the macro is not defined it currently defaults to @code{32}, but
-this default is planned to change due to a need to update
-@code{time_t} for Y2038 safety, and applications should not rely on
-the default.
+this default is planned to change in the future.  This is because
+@code{_TIME_BITS=64} (required for @code{time_t} Y2038 safety) can
+only be used together with @code{_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64}.  When systems
+migrate to 64-bit @code{time_t} by default, @code{_FILE_OFFSET_BITS}
+will also need to default to @code{64}, even for applications that
+do not handle large files.  Applications should not rely on the
+current default.

 This macro should only be selected if the system provides mechanisms for
 handling large files.  On @w{64 bit} systems this macro has no effect
--
2.54.0