[db-wg] Whois changes

Erics wrote:

>Hi,
>
>i think this is a good idea.
>The default output should show the last changed date.
>This could be very helpful for LIRs.
>  
>
It is easy for users who need this information to get it -- add the "-B"
flag to your query. Also, most users of the database are not LIRs.

Relying on the "changed:" attribute to know when objects were updated
has the problem that there is no error checking on it. A user can put
almost any "changed:" value that they want. I could update my person
object today to have this value:

changed: ripe-dbm at ripe.net 19901215

I think in the past people have suggested a "reliable" timestamp on
objects in the database, but other people have argued against it.

One suggestion was to add an optional attribute with a reliable
timestamp that would get generated by the database. This way, if it is
there you can trust it, but if it is not then you must rely on
"changed:" attributes or do without any information.

--
Shane