[Python-Dev] cpython (2.7): Issue #14448: mention pytz; patch by Andrew Svetlov

[Georg Brandl]

On 25.04.2012 19:21, Sandro Tosi wrote:
> On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 11:55, Nick Coghlan <ncoghlan at gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 6:21 PM, Sandro Tosi <sandro.tosi at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed, Apr 25, 2012 at 09:37, Georg Brandl <g.brandl at gmx.net> wrote:
>>>> Also, I'm not sure everybody knows what the "Olson database" is, so maybe that
>>>> should be explained too.
>>>
>>> I had considered that, but then I found another reference of "Olson
>>> database" in an example right before the seealso note, so I left it as
>>> it is. On a second thought, it might be better to clarify what Olson
>>> db is, do you think a link (f.e to here:
>>> http://www.iana.org/time-zones ) could be enough or (or in addition)
>>> also a brief note is needed?
>>
>> I think another "see also" with a link to that page would be
>> appropriate. With maintenance of the database transferred to the IANA,
>> I'd also rephrase the reference as the "IANA timezone database (also
>> known as the Olson database)"
> 
> Ah yes, I like that; what about this change (where the IANA tz db
> section is brutally copied from their website):
> 
> diff --git a/Doc/library/datetime.rst b/Doc/library/datetime.rst
> --- a/Doc/library/datetime.rst
> +++ b/Doc/library/datetime.rst
> @@ -1524,12 +1524,19 @@
>  .. seealso::
> 
>     `pytz <http://pypi.python.org/pypi/pytz/>`_
> -      The Standard Library has no :class:`tzinfo` instances except for UTC, but
> -      it exists a third-party library which brings Olson timezone database to
> -      Python: `pytz`.
> +      The standard library has no :class:`tzinfo` instances except for UTC, but
> +      there exists a third-party library which brings the `IANA timezone
> +      database` (also known as the Olson database) to Python: `pytz`.
> 
>        `pytz` contains up-to-date information and its usage is recommended.

BTW, the single backticks don't do anything usable; use *pytz* to make something
emphasized.

> +   `IANA timezone database <http://www.iana.org/time-zones>`_
> +      The Time Zone Database (often called tz or zoneinfo) contains code and
> +      data that represent the history of local time for many representative
> +      locations around the globe. It is updated periodically to reflect changes
> +      made by political bodies to time zone boundaries, UTC offsets, and
> +      daylight-saving rules.
> +

Maybe it's useful to mention that that database is the one used on Linux (is
it on other Unices?) and Windows has its own?

Georg