[ntpwg] Bug: Status/Summary of slashdot leap-second crash

[STUART VENTERS]

> time, causing time to jump backwards by 1s (or violate POSIX time_t's
> invariant that midnight time_t is % 86400 == 0).  This jump backwards
> is a pita in the kernel, and violates the assumption that many
> programs have that time doesn't flow backwards.

If the kernel is going to keep legal time (which seems to come with leap seconds), 
then many applications might be better off getting suspended for a second if they happen to ask for the time during a leap second.  At least then the app wouldn't see any violations of the Posix spec.

I guess the applications that aren't better off are the one that keep the
kernel from just hanging for a second to let the earth catch up.


Cheers,

Stuart


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