[tz] leap-seconds.list format

[Martin Burnicki]

Byron Torres via tz wrote:
> Thank you, Steve, Paul, Martin, Brian, Tim for your informative
> responses, resources and clarifications.
> 
> On Wed Feb 7, 2024 at 3:03 PM GMT, Brian Inglis wrote:
>> IIRC the leap-seconds.list file loosely follows the format used by NTP for
>> digital security certificate files generated by ntp-keygen.
> 
> Interesting.
> 
> On Wed Feb 7, 2024 at 5:04 PM GMT, Tim Parenti wrote:
>> The other data files distributed by tzdb have long been tab/space-agnostic,
>> so our general response is that parsers should be, too.
> 
> Seems like the way forward for Hare.
> 
> I was hoping to coordinate a formal definition of the current informal
> format, defined apart from the file as a separate document, perhaps even
> an RFC, or even for a newer format.
> 
> However, the file format seems sensible and stable enough currently,
> and I am satisfied with moving on.

I've put an informational page together which provides some basic 
information on the NTP leap second file:
https://kb.meinbergglobal.com/kb/time_sync/ntp/configuration/ntp_leap_second_file

At the bottom of the page there are links to the original paper which 
introduces the leap second file, and ways to use it.

The paper explains the suggested file format, but it doesn't tell 
whether the white space between data fields should (or must) be tabs or 
spaces.

Please note that some special fields like the expiration date were 
introduced later.

So my previous suggestion remains:

- Ignore all comment lines except the special ones starting with "#$", 
"#@", or "#h", which have special meanings.

- Treat tabs or spaces between data fields in the same way, as field 
separators.


Martin
-- 
Martin Burnicki

Senior Software Engineer

MEINBERG Funkuhren GmbH & Co. KG
Email: martin.burnicki at meinberg.de
Phone: +49 5281 9309-414
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martinburnicki/

Lange Wand 9, 31812 Bad Pyrmont, Germany
Amtsgericht Hannover 17HRA 100322
Geschäftsführer/Managing Directors: Natalie Meinberg, Werner Meinberg, 
Andre Hartmann, Heiko Gerstung
Websites: https://www.meinberg.de  https://www.meinbergglobal.com
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