[tz] Policy Suggestion: Minimum time period betwen releases

[Deborah Goldsmith]

I also disagree. A policy like this would punish end users, who are not to blame for any poor planning.

Debbie

> On Mar 27, 2023, at 10:00 AM, John Sauter via tz <tz at iana.org> wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 2023-03-27 at 12:46 -0400, Howard Hinnant via tz wrote:
>> Recent events have brought to my attention the need to put a damper
>> on chaos caused by poor planning.  When governments give little
>> notice to changes in time zone rules, this is not a problem that this
>> group can fix, or should even try.
>> 
>> I propose a minimum period of 30 days between successive IANA tz
>> database releases.  The train leaves the station no more frequently
>> than once every 30 days (and will probably be less frequent). 
>> Whatever information is solid before the release date makes it on the
>> train.  Otherwise it can wait another 30 days (at least).
>> 
>> My recommendation is in part based on this common statement:
>> 
>>     Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my
>> part
>>    
>> https://www.incirlik.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/Article/303134/poor-planning-on-your-part-does-not-constitute-an-emergency-on-my-part/
>> 
>> This week’s chaos isn’t unusual.  In fact it is normal, especially
>> for some countries.  If they can’t be bothered to make a plan in
>> advance and stick with it, I don’t see why this group of volunteers
>> needs to compensate for that.  Let the politicians lie in the beds
>> they make.
>> 
>> Howard
>> 
> 
> I don't agree.  I think the maintainers of the time zone data base
> should have the flexibility to release an updated version whenever, in
> their considered judgment, they feel a release is necessary.
> 
> An obvious case is a serious typographical error.  As soon as it is
> discovered, even if only a day after a release, it should be possible
> to correct it.  I am not referring to a typographical error in a
> comment but one that causes the time to be incorrect.
> 
> Also, it is sometimes helpful to make bad political decisions very
> visible.  Doing so can encourage the makers of bad decisions to mend
> their ways.
>    John Sauter (John_Sauter at systemeyescomputerstore.com)
> -- 
> get my PGP public key with gpg --locate-external-keys
> John_Sauter at systemeyescomputerstore.com
>