> So if leap seconds are arbitraliy added by scientist how does the
> Linux date command know when one is added.

(I assume that's a question, despite the non-question punctuation.)  It
knows more or less the same way any modern Unix variant's date command
does - by using the UTC<->localtime conversion rules on hand.

> Is that something that's part of the timezone file?

Basically, yes.  (I assume UTC<->localtime conversion code not driven
off files exists, but it either must have some analog or must ignore
leap seconds.)

Yes, this means you need to update your timezone data every time a leap
second is added, if you care about leap seconds.  (Or just every six
months or so if you don't want to have to follow leap-second news; I
think leap seconds are introduced only on six-month boundaries.)

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