<i18n dev> [PATCH FOR REVIEW] 6593486: RFE: support user-defined directory path to time zone data files

[Masayoshi Okutsu]

On 5/13/2011 2:17 AM, Omair Majid wrote:
> On 05/12/2011 03:39 AM, Masayoshi Okutsu wrote:
>> On 5/12/2011 5:07 AM, Omair Majid wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> Andrew John Hughes<gnu_andrew at ...> writes:
>>>> When distros update their timezone data, the data used by OpenJDK also
>>>> needs to be updated. At present, this is difficult as OpenJDK uses a
>>>> hardcoded path (${java.home}/jre/lib/zi} for timezone data with no
>>>> option to override it.
>>>>
>>>> A bug was filed for this issue back in 2007 and there was some
>>>> discussion on the mailing lists:
>>>>
>>>> http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/i18n-dev/2007-August/000001.html 
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> but no patch was committed.
>>>>
>>>> I've updated the patch and provide a revised version in this webrev:
>>>>
>>>> http://cr.openjdk.java.net/~andrew/6593486/webrev.01/jdk.patch
>>>>
>>>> Is it ok to commit this to swing-gate?
>>>>
>>> Does anyone have any thoughts about this? We have been carrying this
>>> custom
>>> patch in IcedTea for a few years now. It would be great if other
>>> projects/platforms/architectures could make use of this.
>>
>> Andrew and I discussed his patch proposal *and* an alternative way to do
>> the same thing, use of a symlink (i.e., ${java.home}/jre/lib/zi ->
>> /usr/share/javazi). IIRC, he was supposed to evaluate the symlink
>> approach. But I don't think I've heard back from him.
>>
>> I still prefer to use a symlink rather than introducing yet another
>> property.
>>
>
> Are symlinks supported on all platforms?

Probably not. I'd expect the evaluation addresses that issue as well.

> I see that Windows versions before Vista did not have good support for 
> symlinks [1]. I, and probably others, would like to see this patch in 
> OpenJDK6 too.

Oracle (Sun) has been supporting the platform-neutral way (tzupdater 
tool) to update time zone data of installed JREs. I'd rather prefer to 
develop a common mechanism, such as a tool or Timezone Service Protocol 
support, to update time zone data of installed OpenJDKs.

Thanks,
Masayoshi

>
>
> Thanks,
> Omair
>
> [1] 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolic_link#Windows_7_.26_Vista_symbolic_link