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How do other languages handle this? Do they take the timezones database from the OS, which keeps it updated?

In Java, there is a bundled 'tz' file. It gets updated frequently, here's an example: https://bugs.openjdk.org/browse/JDK-8325150 It is possible to update it manually.

I think that'd be the worst place to take it from for the same reason. If I build a package using today's current TZ database and it works on my machine, it shouldn't stop working if I share it with someone using an old CentOS from several years ago.

You're right. But then tz updates would need a patch.

True, but it’s generally a lot easier to patch software than expect someone to update their whole OS.

(Generally. I know plenty of shops deployed Exchange in 2009 and it still works so why fix it, goshdarnit! Those people aren’t generally updating their OS either though.)

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