in reply to Best source for list of timezones?

The DateTime module on CPAN covers all time zones on earth, future and past, using the Olson database. There's also an active community around it on the DateTime Project Website.

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Re^2: Best source for list of timezones?
by jfroebe (Parson) on Oct 15, 2004 at 20:20 UTC

    Please be aware that the time zones in certain areas are in constant flux especially with regard to countries that change government frequently. This isn't P.C. but it is accurate.

    Don't forget that daylight savings time is inconsistant in duration and occurance. It is dependent on many factors including religion (certain festivals may delay the change), politics (some towns or counties even within the U.S. will use or drop daylight savings depending on which group of people are in office), region, etc. The site that was referenced earlier does provide some updates but not all locations report the use of daylight savings.

    For server applications, use UTC/GMT and let the client app figure out the time.

    Jason L. Froebe

    Update: noticed that I sent it off before it was near done

    No one has seen what you have seen, and until that happens, we're all going to think that you're nuts. - Jack O'Neil, Stargate SG-1

      If "the site that was referenced earlier" meant http://www.twinsun.com/tz/tz-link.htm, they do their very best to be accurate, and release updates 4 or 5 times a year. If you know of any corrections, by all means send them to the mailing list.

      (Also, their data files make for fascinating reading. :)

        yup, that's the one.. sorry about that. Long day...

        I've heard the problem referenced to on National Public Radio several times in the past few years. It is a logistical nightmare for the government, so some places don't officially notify the appropriate authorities proactively.

        Yup, anyone that runs across a place that has a different time than what is listed, please send an email on the mailing list.

        to be honest, I don't know of any application that would have to know about all the time variants locations.

        No one has seen what you have seen, and until that happens, we're all going to think that you're nuts. - Jack O'Neil, Stargate SG-1