Currently the GB locale lacks any support for AM/PM format strings. This results in empty AM/PM fields in applications set to display 12 hour format. Without patching the localedata, the only way around this problem is to temporarily switch to another locale that does support AM/PM format strings, e.g. "LANG=en_US foobar". However, since en_US is not my language, I'd much rather not have to do that, especially as it would also impact other features of the affected applications (spell checking, etc.). Some investigation into the root cause of this deficiency reveals that it seems to be a political issue, where the glibc developers have some sort of ideological objection to 12 hour clock formats. This is bizarre, and of zero interest to me, nor I suspect the many other people who prefer 12 hour time displays. This is, and rightfully should be, purely a matter of individual preference, not "official" policy. A (currently working and tested) patch was provided by Jakub Jelink @ Red Hat in 2004 (linked and attached). Please consider this RFE. Thank you. Reproducible: Always Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install gentoo, glibc, and set locale-gen en_GB 2. Run any app that can use 12h time format + AM/PM field (e.g. x11-misc/tint2) 3. Configure app to show AM/PM field Actual Results: AM/PM field is blank. Expected Results: The GB locale should have the same benefit of AM/PM format as the US locale.
Created attachment 308569 [details, diff] glibc-all-ampm.patch (GB locales)
should post upstream first
Found upstream bug "en_GB should have am/pm representation" (added above), reported on 2006-12-20, summarily closed by former Red Hat employee and glibc lead Ulrich Drepper, for purely ideological reasons (he just doesn't like the 12 hour format), then reopened but ignored for the last 6 years. The most recent bug update was just a week ago. If you know anything about Drepper at all, you'll understand my extreme reluctance to engage in any debate with him. He has a long history of hostility, stubbornness and unreasonable behaviour. I don't want to labour the point, but let me just show you a few examples: http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=4980 http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=5070 http://computingfunnyfacts.blogspot.co.uk/2009/05/ulrich-drepper-about-stallman.html Meanwhile it seems every distro circumvents Drepper's "eccentricity" with their own patches, and have given up trying to gain upstream acceptance. The good news is there was a recent change of leadership, so it's possible this patch may finally be accepted. http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/03/31/1328256/glibc-steering-committee-dissolves-switches-to-co-operative-development-model Apparently Drepper now works for the legally-dubious Goldman Sachs, which seems highly appropriate given his nature. I'll add my 2¢ to the upstream bug and hope for the best, but really we should probably just do what every other distro does, and patch this ourselves. For now.
thanks. i'll post the patch upstream.
ok, this should be on track for glibc-2.16
Success!
