-----Original Message-----
From: alan perry [SMTP:esprit@jps.net]
Sent: Thursday, June 10, 1999 1:18 PM
To: tz(a)elsie.nci.nih.gov
Subject: 64-bit time_t and tz file format
A couple of days ago, I posted something to this list about how to
go about changing the tz file format to support a 64-bit time_t
value. I have heard nothing back.
I was looking through the tzcode to see if this problem has been
addressed already and found the following comment in the zic source.
> ** The tz file format currently allows at most 32-bit quantities.
> ** This restriction should be removed before signed 32-bit values
> ** wrap around in 2038, but unfortunately this will require a
> ** change to the tz file format.
So, has anyone been looking into this issue?
As I noted earlier, the current tz file format doesn't scale
well to a 64-bit time_t and all of the possible additional timezone
transitions that result from the addition years that can be
represented.
As OS vendors (including the one that I used to work for) consider
what to do with time_t when their OS adds 64-bit support and how
to deal with 2038, they might be tempted to come up with their own
solution if it doesn't get addressed by the elsie code.
alan
