Why would you ever need to convert a timestamp? You typically parse a timestamp like "1999-03-29 20:02:04 CEST" and return a number of seconds since a given point in time (e.g. UNIX epoch if it must be). The returned time is obviously +0000 == UTC. If it's not your language/os/software sucks and its no wonder your hair is on fire.
You typically parse a timestamp like "1999-03-29 20:02:04 CEST" and return a number of seconds since a given point in time (e.g. UNIX epoch if it must be).
There's your conversion. I'm not saying it's not easy, I'm saying you're just pulling you out of a hole that your tools were configured to dig.
It's not like am speculating. I implemented these things. The hardest part is agreeing on TZ symbols (e.g. Indian Standard Time vs Ihoa Standard Time). E.g. its not very hard to get right.
