`sudo date 06110816` fails
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Description
From https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rust-coreutils/+bug/2156427:
The date command interprets dates as numbers instead of as string:
On Jammy:
$ sudo date 06110812
Thu Jun 11 08:12:00 CEST 2026
On Resolute:
$ sudo date 06110812
date: invalid date '6110812'
$ sudo /usr/lib/cargo/bin/coreutils/date 06110816
date: invalid date '6110816'
As a workaround the ISO format can be used. But I still expect the date command to conform to its online help:
$ date --help
date [OPTION]... [MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss]]
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the Rust implementation of the date command and reproduce the failure using sudo /usr/lib/cargo/bin/coreutils/date 06110816. Trace how the legacy MMDDhhmm[[CC]YY][.ss] argument is parsed, then add coverage showing that this form is accepted and matches the documented help; verify the existing ISO-format behavior remains intact.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- rust
- Domain
- cli
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 58/100