Actually I think a de facto convention I've seen often is that `mm/dd/yyyy` uses slashes, `dd.mm.yyyy` uses dots, and `yyyy-mm-dd` uses hyphens; I've rarely seen `yyyy mm dd` use anything other than hyphens. (Plus, as pointed out, ISO 8601 says to use yyyy-mm-dd with hyphens.[^1]) So it might be a good idea to follow that /.- convention here too. [^1]: Then again, ISO 8601 also says to use that ugly `T` for separating date and time, like `2023-12-31T23:59`, but nobody seems to follow that and instead prefer to use a space unless aiming for strict ISO compliance.

I don't know if ISO _should_ be the first available option, but it should definitely be an option (probably replacing yyyy/mm/dd). Personally I think what makes the most sense is to have your system/locale's default as the first option. (And if it's not possible to do it based on locale, I'd consider using the "international" and unambiguous format `yyyy-mm-dd` as the first option).

@elextr, I beg to differ. The developers are in the US, but not the users. This expression of developer individuality is hurting Linux. Geany's deference to the US format as the default is silly to the rest of the world, including Canadians like myself.

I am for regional choices since I change them to my comfort everywhere, but we should start with a universal symbol of recognition. I use ISO format in deference to this universe, even though I would have preferred the elegance of «2023.10.01» used in Europe.

The reason the slashes and dots are not used, because they are problematic or «reserved» characters in some contexts in Linux, . . . . . And MS, where the money comes to the free software development world. After all, they are our landlord.

Then, the yellow Geany lantern is a universal symbol for your software, even though I am looking for an icon of Aladdin emerging from an 3 volt LED lamp. :-)

Please consider the ISO standard as the default and then by majority regional use as you know it. This would show universal consideration.


Closed #3556 as completed.

Why did you close it? Everyone seems to be in furious agreement that ISO should be added, just not where in the menu.

The developers are in the US, but not the users.

The _Geany_ developers are mostly __not__ in the US, so they were being nice (or pragmatic) by adding MDY order. You will see from the Wikipedia article I linked that DMY is the most universally used (and Canada is pretty much the only place to use all three to confuse yourselves :grin:).

This expression of developer individuality is hurting Linux.

Well thats what you get when a project is only contributed to by volunteers, you get what they contribute, which is likely what they personally need or want. There is no BDFL or technical board controlling Geany, its all by (mostly) civilised discussion on github and then what "somebody" actually includes in a PR.

So the "somebody" who makes the PR will likely get to set the menu position of the ISO format option.

So the "somebody" who makes the PR will likely get to set the menu position of the ISO format option.

Yaaay!

Now the question is whether to have DMY format second and US format third, or the other way around. Maybe "International / US / Non-US" makes the most sense (i.e. swap first and third).