Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!brl-adm!adm!Makey@LOGICON.arpa From: Makey@LOGICON.arpa (Jeff Makey) Newsgroups: comp.unix.wizards Subject: Re: Daylight Savings Time: how to fix ctime.c Message-ID: <5040@brl-adm.ARPA> Date: Thu, 19-Mar-87 17:59:16 EST Article-I.D.: brl-adm.5040 Posted: Thu Mar 19 17:59:16 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 21-Mar-87 06:58:14 EST Sender: news@brl-adm.ARPA Lines: 29 Guy Harris and Bob Devine have suggested the use of a version of localtime() that was posted to mod.sources a couple of weeks ago. This version keeps the daylight savings time (DST) rules in a special disk file rather than having them linked into each executable image. Any future (or local) changes to the DST rules can, therefore, be easily made without recompiling 70+ programs. Unfortunately, such an implementation sacrifices execution speed for the sake of rule flexibility. Very few UNIX systems really need to know about DST rules for more than one locality, and Congress seems to have more important things to do than change the DST rules very often. The changes I posted will benefit anyone who would rather spend a few hours recompiling some programs once every few years than have to wait for "date" to find some file buried in the bowels of the hierarchy. It may not really be time-efficient, but it helps keep the frustration level down when the system is heavily loaded. Getting both flexibility and execution speed would require intelligent use of System V's shared memory (great for us BSD types! :-). Don't hold your breath. Aslo, Jerry Peek warned about local variations in DST. The rules given in my original posting are those promulgated by Congress. While most of the United States follows those rules, your local rules may differ. :: Jeff Makey Makey@LOGICON.ARPA