Up through version 2016f, the specification was... # For companies who don't want to put time zone specification in # their installation procedures. When users run date, they'll get the message. # Also useful for the "comp.sources" version. # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT Zone Factory 0 - "Local time zone must be set--see zic manual page" ...while since 2016g the specification has been... # For distributors who don't want to put time zone specification in # their installation procedures. Users that run 'date' will get the # time zone abbreviation "-00", indicating that the actual time zone # is unknown. # Zone NAME GMTOFF RULES FORMAT Zone Factory 0 - -00 While the old version may have led to a more instructive result from the first command line invocation of "date," the new version produces result that is standard conforming. @dashdashado On Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 3:22 PM Garrett Wollman via tz <tz@iana.org> wrote:

<<On Thu, 10 Aug 2023 12:19:15 -0700, Justin Grant via tz <tz@iana.org> said:

...

There's a Zone called "Factory". What is its purpose, and how is it used?

It is intended for use as a factory default, to clearly indicate an unconfigured system rather than one that is intentionally configured to run on UTC.

-GAWollman