The function recurly_format_date makes use of the variable 'recurly_date_format', however, there is no admin UI for changing this setting. You can of course change it via something like settings.php, but it's not even documented which makes it a bit mysterious.
function recurly_format_date($date) {
$format = variable_get('recurly_date_format', 'long');
I think the thing to do here would be to allow for:
1. Setting the 'recurly_date_format' variable via the config screen
2. Allow the recurly_format_date function to accept an optional $format parameter so that when using it as an API function it's easier for a developer to determine what the output will look like.
Needs review
5.0
Code
The change is currently missing an automated test that fails when run with the original code, and succeeds when the bug has been fixed.
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It's likely this issue predates Contrib.social: some issue and comment data are missing.
I know this is old. But here is a patch that adds a select box for the date format in the config form.
It does not change the function like originally proposed, this just sets the recurly_date_format variable on the config form.