[tz] Replacing the TZ Coordinator

[David Braverman]

To the extent I'm allowed, I vote No.

We're having a good debate, and AFAICT both sides have merit. The TZDB is and has always been a creature of the Linux epoch; pre-1970 times and dates are, legitimately, outside its remit. But software evolves in ways that don't always fit the pure ideals of its creators; the TZDB has become the best source available for historical time zone information.

I would ask this of the coordinators, though: can someone summarize as dispassionately as possible what the proposals are, and what the pros and cons of each are? Or maybe one person from each camp?

We're all software engineers (or software-engineer-adjacent). We can fix this.

David Braverman


> The TZDB project is guided by RFC 6557. Section 4 allows the list to
> seek an alternate TZ coordinator where "The TZ Coordinator is not
> performing the function in accordance with community wishes".
> https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6557.html#section-4
>
> The RFC instructs as follows:
>
>     Members of the community should raise the
>     issue on the TZ mailing list and attempt to reach consensus on a new
>     candidate to fulfill the role of TZ Coordinator.  If rough consensus
>     cannot be reached easily, the Area Directors of the IETF Applications
>     Area should attempt to guide the members of the community to rough
>     consensus.  The candidate that is agreed upon by the community
>     through rough consensus shall be presented to the IESG for
>     confirmation.  If rough consensus cannot be reached, even with
>     guidance from the Applications Area Directors, the IESG shall use
>     whatever means it has at its disposal to choose a candidate who in
>     its best judgment will be able to fulfill the role of TZ Coordinator.
>
> Is there consensus on the list that a change is required?
> Is there a candidate willing to take on the role of TZ Coordinator?
>
> Stephen