[LEAPSECS] Crunching Bulletin B numbers (POSIX time)

[Ian Batten]

> 

> 

> It is not only about being soooo isolated, but also about not being

> able to download the leap second table for any reason whatsoever.

> 

> The conversion from 1298159105 to and from "2011-02-19 23:45:05" on

> Posix is currently not inclusive of leap seconds: you just do division

> by 86400.

> 

> A proper api includes leap seconds. hence the conversion depends on

> what's in your leap second table. "2011-02-19 23:45:05" is really

> 1298159129 in the Olson library.

> 

> The unix world is replete with software that converts both to and

> from ascii timestamps.


I see that the UK is now cranking up for CET: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12517762

Given that most ASCII timestamps are in "local" time, presumably leap seconds are no more evil than changes in timezone: both will throw off the calculations of these hypothetical isolated machines.

ian