[LEAPSECS] Automation

[Rob Seaman]

Tony Finch wrote:


> The lack of automation is a recipe for mistakes, but leap seconds  

> can't be automated because they don't occur on a predictable schedule.


They can't be naively automated.  The schedule is currently  
predictable 6 months in advance.  Nobody has objected to a longer  
schedule; we're positively giddy to give it a try.  NTP is proof of  
concept that automation is possible once the schedule is released.

Of course, the benefits of naive automation are precisely what the ITU  
is trying to take away from UTC.  Leap seconds are the price of  
preserving easy access to knowledge of Earth orientation.

Since the problem space has never been fully explored, we haven't even  
speculated on ways to improve the automation associated with  
timekeeping.

Rob