[TCLCORE] clock command - "now" vs "-now"

[<apn...@ya...>]

% clock scan now

1721803544

% clock format now

bad seconds "now": must be -now or integer

% clock format -now

Wed Jul 24 12:16:03 IST 2024

 

The above seems incongruous to me, why -now for format and "now" for scan?

 

Afaict, "-now" is really a value, not an option. And unlike options, it
cannot appear at arbitrary points in the command, only in place of the time
value.

 

Is there a rationale for the difference? If no, is it too late to change for
9.0? If too late for compatibility reasons, can clock format and clock add
treat "now" and "-now" as synonyms with latter deprecated? (With a TIP of
course)

 

/Ashok