[tz] [PROPOSED PATCH 2/2] Use lz format for new tarball

[John Hawkinson]

I'd like to second Deborah Goldsmith's comments.

Change is hugely disruptive and the tz package is a core element of
many critical systems. We don't have the luxury of making little
changes, unlike some others packages. Ideally the current distribution
format should last for centuries. Supplementing it is fine, but
removing it should be off the table.

In short, "No, you don't get to simplify."

This all looks like a solution in search of a problem.

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Further, I remain deeply concerned that we are not pushing changes out
to releases fast enough, and not using enough of an enterprise
perspective. On Aug. 8, Paul remarked that he expected an October
release would be the first to incorporate the leap second changes for
this December. That is 2 months; that is not a comfortable amount of
time.

The strange fiction of the "experimental" github repo does not really help
here. The idea that we might all be using something different while
thinking we are "current" is disquieting.

Sorry to stir up old issues.

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p.s.: Maybe someone can dig up some RISKS entries of classic times
where people "just wanted to simplify" and disaster struck.

--jhawk at mit.edu
  John Hawkinson