Re:It’s time to leave the leap second in the past
by denton-scratch on Tuesday July 26, 2022 @05:27AM
(#32236091)
> then the problem would be greatly lessened.
I disagree; I think it would be made worse.
UTC timekeeping in computers depends on a database of leapseconds, which has to be updated. But many systems don't get updated, resulting in drift. If leap-[seconds|minutes] only occur every 2 decades, many systems will ship with no update mechanism, on the principle "Don't worry, the system will be obsolete before twenty years is up". Hah! Famous last words.
I disagree; I think it would be made worse.
UTC timekeeping in computers depends on a database of leapseconds, which has to be updated. But many systems don't get updated, resulting in drift. If leap-[seconds|minutes] only occur every 2 decades, many systems will ship with no update mechanism, on the principle "Don't worry, the system will be obsolete before twenty years is up". Hah! Famous last words.