[Python] Use tzdata timezone database on Windows
- Dominant language
- C++
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Description
In ARROW-13168, we enabled setting the path of the text-based database engine at runtime. This allowed R to use the tzdb package for the timezone database, since it uses the text format.
However, it doesn't seem like tzdata Python package ships that text format. They do have [a "compact" text format](https://github.com/python/tzdata/blob/master/src/tzdata/zoneinfo/tzdata.zi), which _might_ be compatible with our vendored date library. Otherwise, we'd likely have to wait for binary format support in https://github.com/HowardHinnant/date/issues/564
**Reporter**: [Will Jones](https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ARROW-16054) / @wjones127
**Watchers**: [Rok Mihevc](https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ARROW-16054) / @rok
#### Related issues:
- https://github.com/apache/arrow/issues/28868 (is related to)
**Note**: *This issue was originally created as [ARROW-16054](https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ARROW-16054). Please see the [migration documentation](https://github.com/apache/arrow/issues/14542) for further details.*
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start with ARROW-13168 and related issue 28868, then compare the Python tzdata package's tzdata.zi compact text format with the vendored date library. Check the binary-format discussion in HowardHinnant/date issue 564. Done means Python on Windows can use the tzdata package as its timezone database.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cpp, python
- Domain
- internationalization
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Needs clarification
- Newbie friendliness
- 25/100