JDK-8068730 : Increase the precision of the implementation of java.time.Clock.systemUTC()
  • Type: Enhancement
  • Component: core-libs
  • Sub-Component: java.time
  • Priority: P3
  • Status: Closed
  • Resolution: Fixed
  • Submitted: 2015-01-09
  • Updated: 2020-04-14
  • Resolved: 2015-01-29
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JDK 9
9 b50Fixed
Related Reports
Relates :  
JDK-8180428 - Clarify implementation note in Clock.java to match implementation changes made by JDK-8068730
Relates :  
JDK-8242504 - Enhance the system clock to nanosecond precision
Relates :  
JDK-8072645 - java.util.logging should use java.time to get more precise time stamps
Relates :  
JDK-8071919 - Add java.time.Clock.tickMillis(ZoneId zone) method
Sub Tasks
JDK-8164428 :  
Release Note: The implementation of the clock returned by system factory methods in java.time.Clock has increased the resolution - Closed
Description
The java.time.Clock.system() method (and variants thereof) are specified to "obtain a clock that returns the current instant using best available system clock". However the current implementation of the clock returned is based on System.currentTimeMillis() whereas the underlying native clock used by System.currentTimeMillis() has often a greater precision than milliseconds (for instance, on Linux, System.currentTimeMillis() is based on gettimeofday, which offers microseconds precision).

This RFE propose to enhance the implementation of the system clocks returned by java.time.Clock, so that they offer at least the same precision than the underlying clock available on the system.
Comments
Text for release notes: Scope: JDK. Synopsis: The implementation of the clock returned by system factory methods in java.time.Clock has increased the resolution in JDK 9. The Java SE 8 specification for java.time.Clock states that "The system factory methods provide clocks based on the best available system clock. This may use System.currentTimeMillis(), or a higher resolution clock if one is available.". In JDK 8 the implementation of the clock returned was based on System.currentTimeMillis(), and thus has only a millisecond resolution. In JDK 9, the implementation is based on the underlying native clock that System.currentTimeMillis() is using, providing the maximum resolution available from that clock. On most systems this can be microseconds, or sometimes even tenth of microseconds. An application making the assumption that the clock returned by these system factory methods will always have milliseconds precision and actively depends on it, may therefore need to be updated in order to take into account the possibility of a greater resolution, as was stated in the API documentation.
29-01-2015