bug(date): -s option rejects military times that end with j
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U - date
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Description
Hi, uutils mainteners
the -s set date option, rejects miliatry times that end with j as we confirmed
relunsec@relunsec:~/software/coreutils/target/debug$ ./date -s "J"
date: invalid date 'J'
relunsec@relunsec:~/software/coreutils/target/debug$ gnudate -s "J"
gnudate: cannot set date: Operation not permitted
Mon Jun 15 12:00:00 AM EDT 2026
relunsec@relunsec:~/software/coreutils/target/debug$ ./date -s "3j"
date: invalid date '3j'
relunsec@relunsec:~/software/coreutils/target/debug$ gnudate -s "3j"
gnudate: cannot set date: Operation not permitted
Mon Jun 15 03:00:00 AM EDT 2026
relunsec@relunsec:~/software/coreutils/target/debug$
it needs be fixed too
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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 at the date command's -s option and trace how military-time inputs are parsed. Compare the handling of "J" and "3j" with the GNU date behavior shown in the report, then run the existing date tests and add coverage demonstrating the expected acceptance of these inputs.
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
- 64/100