TaskNotes Timezone Quick Reference

🚀 Quick Cheat Sheet

Today's Date

// ✅ DO
import { getTodayLocal, getTodayString } from '@/utils/dateUtils';
const today = getTodayLocal();        // Date object
const todayStr = getTodayString();    // "YYYY-MM-DD"

// ❌ DON'T
const today = new Date();             // Has time component!

Format for Storage

// ✅ DO
import { formatDateForStorage } from '@/utils/dateUtils';
const dateStr = formatDateForStorage(date);

// ❌ DON'T
import { format } from 'date-fns';
const dateStr = format(date, 'yyyy-MM-dd');

Parse Date Strings

// ✅ DO
import { parseDateAsLocal } from '@/utils/dateUtils';
const date = parseDateAsLocal('2025-01-21');  // For date-only

// ❌ DON'T
const date = new Date('2025-01-21');          // May be UTC!

Complete a Task

// ✅ DO
const completionDate = formatDateForStorage(getTodayLocal());
task.complete_instances.push(completionDate);

// ❌ DON'T
task.complete_instances.push(format(new Date(), 'yyyy-MM-dd'));

📋 Copy-Paste Templates

Import Block

import { 
  getTodayLocal, 
  getTodayString, 
  formatDateForStorage, 
  parseDateAsLocal 
} from '@/utils/dateUtils';

Common Patterns

// Check if overdue
const isOverdue = task.scheduled < getTodayString();

// Get date 7 days from now
const futureDate = new Date(getTodayLocal());
futureDate.setDate(futureDate.getDate() + 7);
const futureDateStr = formatDateForStorage(futureDate);

// Calendar date selection
const handleDateSelect = (date: Date) => {
  const dateStr = formatDateForStorage(date);
  // Use dateStr for storage/display
};

⚠️ Red Flags in Code Review

1. Direct use of format(date, 'yyyy-MM-dd')
2. new Date() when you just need today's date
3. Manual UTC conversion for RRule operations
4. Mixing different date formatting methods
5. new Date(dateString) without parseDate functions

💡 Remember

Local dates for users, UTC handled internally for RRule

When in doubt: formatDateForStorage() + getTodayLocal()