ddate

ddate [OPTION]... [DATE]

-o, --ordinal
    Prints the day of the year as an ordinal number (e.g., 1st, 2nd) rather than the standard Discordian suffix (e.g., Sweetmorn, Pungenday).

-R, --rfc-2822
    Formats the Discordian date output to be RFC 2822 compliant. This can be useful for integration with systems expecting standard date formats while still showing the Discordian context.

--help
    Displays a help message and exits.

--version
    Displays version information and exits.

[DATE]
    An optional argument to specify a Gregorian date (in a format recognized by the date(1) command) for which to print the Discordian equivalent, instead of the current system date.

The ddate command is a delightful and whimsical utility that prints the current date according to the Discordian calendar. Unlike conventional date commands, ddate embraces the chaotic and humorous philosophy of Discordianism, a parody religion centered around the worship of Eris, the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Its primary purpose is not practicality but rather to provide a moment of amusement and a nod to counter-culture computing traditions. It's often found in Linux and Unix-like systems as a nod to the developers' sense of humor.

The Discordian calendar, as described in Principia Discordia, features five 73-day seasons: Chaos, Discord, Confusion, Bureaucracy, and The Aftermath, along with special holy days and Apostle weeks. ddate translates the Gregorian date into this unique format, often including references to the Discordian year (YOLD - Year of Our Lord Discordia) and specific calendar elements like St. Tib's Day or the Apostle weeks. It serves as a charming relic of early hacker culture and a testament to the playful side of software development.

The primary caveat of ddate is its purely novelty nature. It should not be used for any serious time-keeping or scheduling purposes as the Discordian calendar is not universally recognized or practical for everyday use.

Its output format is non-standard and varies significantly from the Gregorian calendar. Furthermore, the availability and specific options of ddate can vary slightly between different Linux distributions, as it is often part of a 'fun' or 'misc' utilities package rather than a core system component.

The ddate command is more than just a utility; it's a small piece of hacker and internet culture, symbolizing rebellion against convention and a celebration of the absurd. It connects users to a shared history of playful defiance within the tech community.

A typical output of ddate on a random day might look like:
Today is Setting Orange, the 24th day of Chaos in the YOLD 3190
The specific format includes the Discordian day of the week, day of the season, season name, and the Discordian Year of Our Lord Discordia (YOLD).

The ddate command emerged from the culture of early Unix and Linux development, particularly within the hacker and open-source communities who appreciated its blend of humor and technical ingenuity. Its existence is deeply rooted in the Discordianism parody religion, which gained popularity in the mid-20th century, particularly through works like Principia Discordia and The Illuminatus! Trilogy.

While an exact first release date is hard to pinpoint, ddate has been a long-standing component of many Unix-like systems, often included as a non-essential but beloved utility. It serves as an inside joke and a symbol of the playful side of programming, contrasting with the often serious nature of system administration. It highlights the tradition of developers embedding quirky features or 'Easter eggs' into their software, enriching the user experience beyond mere functionality.

date(1), cal(1)