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Timezone Maintainer Retiring

Posted by timothy on from the sunset-clause-means-it's-noon-all-over dept.

linuxwrangler writes "It's used in Java. It's used in nearly every flavor of UNIX/Linux. In PostgreSQL, Oracle and other databases. Several RFCs refer to it. But where does the timezone database come from? I never gave it much thought but would have assumed that it was under the purview of some standards body somewhere. It's not. Since the inception of the database Arthur David Olson has maintained the database, coordinated the mailing list and volunteers and provided a release platform and now he is retiring. IANA is developing a transition strategy. Jon Udell has an interesting literary appreciation of the timezone database."

9 of 198 comments (clear)

  1. where are the comments? by joeme1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    I keep refreshing, but there are no comments. How am I supposed to learn anything about this subject if there are not comments?

    1. Re:where are the comments? by MrEricSir · · Score: 4, Funny

      We'd leave comments, but it's midnight here. Or at least, that's what my computer clock is telling me all of a sudden.

      --
      There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
  2. How does the fridge lamp work, really? by Ceriel+Nosforit · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...assumed that it was under the purview of some standards body somewhere. It's not.

    So it was magical server elves all along!

    --
    All rites reversed 2010
    1. Re:How does the fridge lamp work, really? by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Funny

      So it was magical server elves all along!

      No, this was a server wizard. I can only imagine the beard that comes along with this guy.

      Kudos to the wise ones who have kept everything going.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  3. Re:'bout time by MozeeToby · · Score: 4, Funny

    An allusion to what?

  4. So long... by eexaa · · Score: 5, Funny

    ....and thanks for all the zones.

  5. Re:Stupid humans, why do we still need this crap? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Swatch Internet Time?

  6. Better yet by gsgriffin · · Score: 4, Funny

    Wait! How about just moving to UNIX time stamps. " I'll meet you at 1299198176 at the coffee shop...give or take a few thousand."

    --
    jsut athnoer menagiensls ltitle psrhae for you to dcoede. Why do we wtsae our tmie dnoig tihs?
  7. Re:Definition of awesome by FiloEleven · · Score: 4, Funny

    You know you read too much Slashdot when you read "IANA" and your internal parser breaks because it isn't followed by a noun. =(

    --
    Your brain is not a computer.