Xref: news2.mv.net comp.os.msdos.djgpp:4319 From: Dave Pearson Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.djgpp Subject: Re: What is all this "timezone" stuff for? Date: Tue, 28 May 1996 12:26:28 GMT Organization: A Private Internet Host Lines: 43 Sender: usenet AT hagbard DOT demon DOT co DOT uk Message-ID: References: <4oehjq$o95 AT hawk DOT le DOT ac DOT uk> To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com DJ-Gateway: from newsgroup comp.os.msdos.djgpp Clive Page wrote: > >These files are POSIX. Since DJGPP is a POSIX-compliant environment, it > >works in a POSIX-like way. I think DJGPP users can be trusted to detect > >unused files and zip them away and don't need to be fed such wisdom with a > >teaspoon. > > This whole discussion has been based on the assumption that an algorithm > exists that can determine the difference between local time and UTC (GMT > as was). I have to say that this simply isn't possible. The duration of > Summer Time (as it's called in the Northern hemisphere) varies from place > to place quite randomly and unpredictably, and changes are at the whim of > governments, which don't have any sense of needing to conform with > algorithms or standards. That's why you can update such files. > Recently lots of diaries and calendars in the UK had incorrect > information about the dates on which clocks changed, because our > government changed the relevant dates after lots of stuff had > already been printed. Not surprisingly, lots of Unix and VMS systems > which relied on supposed predictions of these dates got it wrong, > and system managers had lots of fun sorting it all out. But if the files are updated then it's ok, my Linux box coped without a problem. > I think the whole idea of predicting the local-time - UTC difference is > fatally flawed. It seems silly for the DJGPP package to even attempt it. > My respect for the sagacity of those who invented the Posix series of > standards, already not all that high, has fallen further, now I know that > they are responsible for clogging my disc with useless junk. Shall we stop priting time differences in the back of telephone directories as well? -- Take a look in Hagbard's World: | w3ng - The WWW Norton Guide reader. http://www.acemake.com/hagbard | ng2html - The NG to HTML converter. For pgp public key send mail to | eg - Norton Guide reader for OS/2. pgp AT hagbard DOT demon DOT co DOT uk | DBF.java - DBF reader class for Java.