add news of 2025-03-15

Add news of the mkiocccentry toolkit version 2.4.4 2025-03-15.

Note that C is the official locale of the IOCCC in the IOCCC guidelines
version 28.47 2025-03-15.

news.html

@@ -434,7 +434,15 @@ for more information on Mastodon.</p>
 <h3 id="ioccc-discord-community">IOCCC Discord Community</h3>
 <p>We invite you to join the <strong>IOCCC Discord Community</strong> via this link: <a href="https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw">https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw</a></p>
 <h1 id="news">News</h1>
-<h2 id="section">2025-03-12</h2>
+<h2 id="section">2025-03-15</h2>
+<p>We released <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry toolkit</a> <strong>version 2.4.4 2025-03-15</strong>.</p>
+<p>While you are <strong>NOT</strong> required to use this release in order to submit to <strong>IOCCC28</strong>,
+we do <strong>RECOMMEND</strong> that you <strong>install and use</strong> it, because among other things, it provides:</p>
+<ul>
+<li>Set locale to <strong>C</strong>, the <strong>official locale</strong> of the <strong>IOCCC</strong>.</li>
+</ul>
+<p>See the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.4">version 2.4.4 release notes</a> for more details.</p>
+<h2 id="section-1">2025-03-12</h2>
 <p>We released <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry toolkit</a> <strong>version 2.4.3 2025-03-11</strong>.</p>
 <p>While you are <strong>NOT</strong> required to use this release in order to submit to <strong>IOCCC28</strong>,
 we do <strong>RECOMMEND</strong> that you <strong>install and use</strong> it, because among other things, it provides:</p>
@@ -444,11 +452,10 @@ we do <strong>RECOMMEND</strong> that you <strong>install and use</strong> it, b
 <li><code>mkiocccentry -x</code> will force the overwriting of the submission directory it forms under <code>workdir</code></li>
 <li><code>mkiocccentry -U uuid</code> and <code>mkiocccentry -u uuid_file</code> let you set your username</li>
 </ul>
-<p>See the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.3">version 2.4.3 release notes</a>
+<p>See the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.3">version 2.4.3 release notes</a> for more details.</p>
-for more details.</p>
 <p><strong>Clarification</strong>: <strong>NUL bytes</strong> are <strong>ALLOWED</strong> in your submission <code>prog.c</code> and related C code.</p>
 <p>Please mention in your <code>remarks.md</code> file if your C source contains <strong>NUL bytes</strong>.</p>
-<h2 id="section-1">2025-03-05</h2>
+<h2 id="section-2">2025-03-05</h2>
 <p>The <a href="faq.html#ioccc_start">40th anniversary of the IOCCC</a>, <strong>IOCCC28</strong>, will be <strong>open</strong> for
 submissions from <strong>2025-03-05 23:19:17.131107 UTC</strong> to <strong>2025-06-05 04:03:02.010099 UTC</strong>.</p>
 <p>Version <strong>28.30 2025-03-03</strong> of the <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC28 rules</a>,
@@ -468,13 +475,13 @@ and initial password by email. If you cannot find that email, contact the
 <a href="contact.html#if-you-really-need-to-send-email-the-ioccc-judges">IOCCC Judges by email</a>
 for help. We have given early registrants extra time (until <strong>2025 Mar 12 UTC</strong>), to login
 and change their initial password.</p>
-<h2 id="section-2">2025-02-28</h2>
+<h2 id="section-3">2025-02-28</h2>
 <p>We have reached our <strong>code freeze</strong> milestone for the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry repo</a> and released a new version of the <a href="faq.html#mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry toolkit</a>!</p>
 <p>Final testing is going well. We remain on track to open the <strong>IOCCC28</strong> on <strong>2025-03-05 23:19:17.131107 UTC</strong>.</p>
 <p>In a few days, those <a href="https://www.ioccc.org/next/register.html">registered for IOCCC28</a> will receive email with their username and initial password to <a href="https://submit.ioccc.org">submit their code</a>.</p>
 <p>We encourage those who wish to enter the <strong>IOCCC28</strong> to <a href="https://www.ioccc.org/next/register.html">registered for IOCCC28</a> today.</p>
 <p>Consider joining the IOCCC discord community via this link: <a href="https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw">https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw</a></p>
-<h2 id="section-3">2025-02-12</h2>
+<h2 id="section-4">2025-02-12</h2>
 <p>We have discovered an issue that needs to be resolved, followed by more testing
 after the code freeze. We also want to improve the <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC28 guidelines</a>,
 and to simplify the write-up of the <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC28 rules</a>.</p>
@@ -482,7 +489,7 @@ and to simplify the write-up of the <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC28 rules</a>.
 on <strong>2024-12-29 23:58:13.213455 UTC</strong>, is now scheduled to be <strong>open</strong>
 from <strong>2025-03-05 23:19:17.131107 UTC</strong> to <strong>2025-06-05 04:03:02.010099 UTC</strong>.
 We apologize for this delay.</p>
-<h2 id="section-4">2025-01-28</h2>
+<h2 id="section-5">2025-01-28</h2>
 <p><strong>IMPORTANT DISCORD UPDATE</strong>: Due to a Discord bug/mis-feature, those
 who joined the <a href="https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw">IOCCC Discord server</a>
 recently lost their access soon afterwards and have to re-join.
@@ -492,7 +499,7 @@ Fans of the IOCCC, hopeful <strong>IOCCC28</strong> contestants, and past winner
 are all encouraged to stop by and say hello.</p>
 <p>To join, click this link:
 <a href="https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw">https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw</a>.</p>
-<h2 id="section-5">2025-01-25</h2>
+<h2 id="section-6">2025-01-25</h2>
 <p>The IOCCC now has a <a href="https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw">Discord server</a>!
 Click the link to join the <a href="https://discord.gg/Wa42Qujwnw">IOCCC Discord server</a>.
 Fans of the IOCCC, hopeful <strong>IOCCC28</strong> contestants, and past winners of the IOCCC
@@ -508,14 +515,14 @@ on <strong>2024-12-29 23:58:13.213455 UTC</strong>, is now scheduled to be <stro
 from <strong>2025-02-19 23:19:17.130705 UTC</strong> to <strong>2025-05-19 23:29:31.374143
 UTC</strong>. We will update the <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a> and
 <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a> accordingly, before the contest opens.</p>
-<h2 id="section-6">2024-12-31</h2>
+<h2 id="section-7">2024-12-31</h2>
 <p>We have just released <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/v2.3">version 2.3 of the mkiocccentry repo</a>.
 This repo 2.3 release includes important improvements (over repo release 2.1) to the <code>mkiocccentry(1)</code> tool
 as well as a critical fix for installing on BSD based systems.</p>
 <p>Please download <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/v2.3">version 2.3 of the mkiocccentry repo</a>,
 and compile the <a href="faq.html#mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry tool set</a>. You may also wish to install this code.
 See also the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/blob/master/FAQ.md">mkiocccentry FAQ</a> for more information.</p>
-<h2 id="section-7">2024-12-30</h2>
+<h2 id="section-8">2024-12-30</h2>
 <p>The IOCCC <a href="next/rules.html#rule13">Rule 13</a> no longer discourages the
 use of UTF-8 in C source. Since the days of <code>-std=gnu17</code> compilers,
 UTF-8 characters do not impose a compiler problem. The related guideline
@@ -526,7 +533,7 @@ modifications as means to tell the submitter that their submission was received.
 <p>All of the import IOCCC dates within the <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a>
 have been moved into the “<a href="next/rules.html#dates">Important IOCCC dates</a>”
 section.</p>
-<h2 id="section-8">2024-12-28</h2>
+<h2 id="section-9">2024-12-28</h2>
 <h3 id="good-news-everyone--">Good News Everyone! :-)</h3>
 <p>After a 4 year effort by a <a href="thanks-for-help.html">number of people</a>,
 with over 6168+ commits, the <strong>Great Fork Merge</strong> has been completed
@@ -554,7 +561,7 @@ and <a href="status.json">status.json</a> has been updated to reflect this new s
 <p>Proposed and tentative <a href="next/rules.html">IOCCC rules</a> and <a href="next/guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a>
 have been released.</p>
 <p>See <a href="quick-start.html#enter_questions">FAQ Section 0</a> for more information on how to enter.</p>
-<h2 id="section-9">2024-06-08</h2>
+<h2 id="section-10">2024-06-08</h2>
 <p>We continue to make good progress on the
 <a href="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc/">temp-test-ioccc website</a>
 via the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc">temp-test-ioccc</a> repo.</p>
@@ -584,7 +591,7 @@ not having to look at them more than once on a whole, other than possible
 entries that have to be added at the end, like the example below.</p>
 <p>Once the <em>submit server</em> server is ready another FAQ will be added and that
 entry can be looked at alone.</p>
-<h2 id="section-10">2024-05-30</h2>
+<h2 id="section-11">2024-05-30</h2>
 <p>A number of issues from minor fixes have been applied to the
 <a href="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc/">temp-test-ioccc website</a>
 via the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc">temp-test-ioccc</a> repo.</p>
@@ -619,7 +626,7 @@ ask for beta testing of the new <strong>IOCCC registration process</strong> and
 This will speed up the start date of IOCCC28.</p>
 <p>It is our plan that IOCCC28 will occur in 2024, the 40th anniversary of the
 IOCCC.</p>
-<h2 id="section-11">2024-04-30</h2>
+<h2 id="section-12">2024-04-30</h2>
 <p>The website now is viewing by mobile devices such as cell phones
 and tablets. Devices with a screen resolution 1024 pixels and
 narrower are given a <em>hamburger-style</em> menu icon in place of
@@ -641,7 +648,7 @@ files that are static (not generated <code>bin</code> tools) report </strong>no
 warnings, nor info** messages, changes involving fixing invalid
 links to local files have been corrected, and changes involving the
 <em>topbar</em> are now HTML 5 conforming.</p>
-<h2 id="section-12">2024-04-20</h2>
+<h2 id="section-13">2024-04-20</h2>
 <p>Nearly all of the <a href="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc/">temp-test-ioccc website</a>
 website has undergone editorial review. Nearly all <a href="years.html">IOCCC winning entries</a>
 compile on modern systems and many have <code>try.sh</code> scripts to help you run them.
@@ -659,10 +666,10 @@ glaring “<em>dancing bears</em>” and other frivolous web features.</p>
 where the contents of the <a href="https://ioccc-src.github.io/temp-test-ioccc/">temp-test-ioccc website</a>
 will be merged into the <a href="https://www.ioccc.org/index.html">Official IOCCC website</a>.</p>
 <p>Stay tuned!</p>
-<h2 id="section-13">2024-02-29</h2>
+<h2 id="section-14">2024-02-29</h2>
 <p>We continue to make good progress on website. In the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc">temp-test-ioccc GitHub repo</a> we have made nearly 4600 changes to date!</p>
 <p>All web pages, including this one, are now constructed from markdown files and/or JSON data files using tools found in the <a href="bin/index.html">bin</a> directory.</p>
-<h2 id="section-14">2023-05-22</h2>
+<h2 id="section-15">2023-05-22</h2>
 <p>We have been busy preparing for an important / significant update to this website. In the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc">temp-test-ioccc GitHub repo</a> we have made nearly 2645 changes to date.</p>
 <p>While you are free to look at the <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/temp-test-ioccc">temp-test-ioccc GitHub repo</a>,
 please <strong>do not link to it</strong> as this repo and related website will disappear once the main
@@ -718,7 +725,7 @@ that needs urgent fixing.
 The <strong>IOCCCMOCK</strong> will us to beta-test the new IOCCC process without putting the hard work of those
 who submit real IOCCC entries at risk.</p>
 <p>Stay tuned!</p>
-<h2 id="section-15">2023-01-30</h2>
+<h2 id="section-16">2023-01-30</h2>
 <p>We added to the
 <a href="status.json">status.json</a> page,
 a <em>“status_date”</em> JSON member whose value is the date
@@ -730,7 +737,7 @@ a <em>“latest_news”</em> JSON member whose value is the date
 of the most recent news item.</p>
 <pre><code>    &quot;status_date&quot; : &quot;Mon Jan 30 02:28:44 PST 2023&quot;,
     &quot;latest_news&quot; : &quot;Mon Jan 30 02:28:44 PST 2023&quot;</code></pre>
-<h2 id="section-16">2022-12-18</h2>
+<h2 id="section-17">2022-12-18</h2>
 <p>As per the suggestion of <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@Virtaava@home.social">Toni Mikkola
 (<span class="citation" data-cites="Virtaava">@Virtaava</span><span class="citation" data-cites="home.social&amp;rpar">@home.social&amp;rpar</span>;</a>
 we now maintain a <a href="status.json">status.json</a> page on this website.</p>
@@ -748,7 +755,7 @@ The details of such additional JSON members are <em>TBD</em>.</p>
 Instead you will have to rely on the additional JSON information
 and/or read the <a href="#news">IOCCC news</a>,
 and/or follow us on Mastodon via <strong><span class="citation" data-cites="ioccc">@ioccc</span><span class="citation" data-cites="fosstodon.org">@fosstodon.org</span></strong>.</p>
-<h2 id="section-17">2022-11-29</h2>
+<h2 id="section-18">2022-11-29</h2>
 <p>We are planning to abandon our
 <a href="https://twitter.com/ioccc">IOCCC Twitter feed</a>
 in favor of our new <a href="https://fosstodon.org/@ioccc">IOCCC Mastodon</a> feed.</p>
@@ -783,7 +790,7 @@ is made possible by volunteers,
 and those who voluntarily
 <a href="https://hub.fosstodon.org/support/">support</a> the cost of their server.</p>
 <p>Stay tuned in Mastodon as we update you on our progress towards the next IOCCC!</p>
-<h2 id="section-18">2022-11-19</h2>
+<h2 id="section-19">2022-11-19</h2>
 <p>Source code has been released for version <strong>0.8.1 2022-11-19</strong> of the
 <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry repo</a>,
 a GitHub repo that includes the official iocccsize tool,
@@ -795,13 +802,13 @@ to upload the above mentioned compressed tarball: when the contest is open of co
 judges will go through the motions (without judging the content) of an IOCCC:
 testing the above mentioned tools and testing the submit server.</p>
 <p>We are working on complete rebuild of this website as well.</p>
-<h2 id="section-19">2022-01-15</h2>
+<h2 id="section-20">2022-01-15</h2>
 <p>Source code has been released for version <strong>0.24 2022-01-15</strong> of the
 <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry tool</a>,
 a tool that is based on, and is containing, the official iocccsize tool,
 will form a compressed tarball that a registered IOCCC contestant
 will upload to the submit server (when the contest is open of course).</p>
-<h2 id="section-20">2021-12-27</h2>
+<h2 id="section-21">2021-12-27</h2>
 <p><a href="judges.html">The Judges</a>
 are continuing to work on re-tooling how we run the IOCCC.
 We are writing tools under various repositories our
@@ -810,7 +817,7 @@ We are writing tools under various repositories our
 Sorry for the delay, but we think you will appreciate the re-tooling
 when it is completed.
 Stay tuned!</p>
-<h2 id="section-21">2021-10-21</h2>
+<h2 id="section-22">2021-10-21</h2>
 <p><a href="judges.html">The Judges</a>
 are re-tooling how we run the IOCCC.
 Our goal is to build a smoother, more rapid process centered around

news.md

@@ -20,6 +20,18 @@ We invite you to join the **IOCCC Discord Community** via this link: [https://di
 </div>
 
 
+## 2025-03-15
+
+We released [mkiocccentry toolkit](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) **version 2.4.4 2025-03-15**.
+
+While you are **NOT** required to use this release in order to submit to **IOCCC28**,
+we do **RECOMMEND** that you **install and use** it, because among other things, it provides:
+
+* Set locale to **C**, the **official locale** of the **IOCCC**.
+
+See the [version 2.4.4 release notes](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.4) for more details.
+
+
 ## 2025-03-12
 
 We released [mkiocccentry toolkit](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry) **version 2.4.3 2025-03-11**.
@@ -32,8 +44,7 @@ we do **RECOMMEND** that you **install and use** it, because among other things,
 * `mkiocccentry -x` will force the overwriting of the submission directory it forms under `workdir`
 * `mkiocccentry -U uuid` and `mkiocccentry -u uuid_file` let you set your username
 
-See the [version 2.4.3 release notes](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.3)
+See the [version 2.4.3 release notes](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.3) for more details.
-for more details.
 
 **Clarification**: **NUL bytes** are **ALLOWED** in your submission `prog.c` and related C code.
 

next/guidelines.html

@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ writing by <a href="../contact.html">contacting the judges</a>.</p>
 </div>
 </div>
 <p class="leftbar">
-These <a href="guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a> are version <strong>28.46 2025-03-12</strong>.
+These <a href="guidelines.html">IOCCC guidelines</a> are version <strong>28.47 2025-03-15</strong>.
 </p>
 <p class="leftbar">
 The markdown form of these guidelines <a href="guidelines.md"
@@ -694,6 +694,14 @@ BESM-6, and 2503 is a decimal anagram of 2053.
 obviates some of the need to <code>#define</code> C reserved words in an effort
 to get around the size limits of <a href="rules.html#rule2">Rule 2</a>.</p>
 <p>Yes Virginia, <strong>that is a hint</strong>!</p>
+<p class="leftbar">
+The <strong>official locale</strong> of the <strong>IOCCC</strong> is <strong>C</strong>.
+</p>
+<p class="leftbar">
+The <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry">mkiocccentry toolkit</a>,
+as of <a href="https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.4">Release version 2.4.4 2025-03-15</a>,
+will run with a locale set to <strong>C</strong>.
+</p>
 <p>Jump to: <a href="#">top</a></p>
 <div id="hints">
 <div id="suggestions">

next/guidelines.md

@@ -44,8 +44,10 @@ granted provided this this copyright and notice are included in its entirety
 and remains unaltered.  All other uses must receive prior permission in
 writing by [contacting the judges](../contact.html).
 
+
 Jump to: [top](#)
 
+
 <div id="guidelines_version">
 <div id="version">
 # IOCCC Guidelines version
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ Jump to: [top](#)
 </div>
 
 <p class="leftbar">
-These [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) are version **28.46 2025-03-12**.
+These [IOCCC guidelines](guidelines.html) are version **28.47 2025-03-15**.
 </p>
 
 <p class="leftbar">
@@ -63,8 +65,10 @@ download="guidelines.md">is available for download</a>.
 
 **IMPORTANT**: Be **SURE** to read the [IOCCC rules](rules.html).
 
+
 Jump to: [top](#)
 
+
 <div id="change_marks">
 # Change marks
 </div>
@@ -77,8 +81,10 @@ Most lines (we sometimes make mistakes) that were modified since the previous
 IOCCC start with a solid 4 pixel black left border (or, in the case of a code
 block or blockquote, just a vertical bar).
 
+
 Jump to: [top](#)
 
+
 <div id="about_guidelines">
 # ABOUT THIS FILE:
 </div>
@@ -334,6 +340,16 @@ to get around the size limits of [Rule 2](rules.html#rule2).
 
 Yes Virginia, **that is a hint**!
 
+<p class="leftbar">
+The **official locale** of the **IOCCC** is **C**.
+</p>
+
+<p class="leftbar">
+The [mkiocccentry toolkit](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry),
+as of [Release version 2.4.4 2025-03-15](https://github.com/ioccc-src/mkiocccentry/releases/tag/2.4.4),
+will run with a locale set to **C**.
+</p>
+
 
 Jump to: [top](#)
 

sitemap.xml

@@ -15414,11 +15414,11 @@
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/faq.html</loc>
-    <lastmod>2025-03-13T03:37:32+00:00</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2025-03-15T22:05:37+00:00</lastmod>
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/faq.md</loc>
-    <lastmod>2025-03-13T03:37:26+00:00</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2025-03-15T22:05:37+00:00</lastmod>
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/inc/index.html</loc>
@@ -15458,11 +15458,11 @@
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/news.html</loc>
-    <lastmod>2025-03-13T03:00:48+00:00</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2025-03-15T22:17:20+00:00</lastmod>
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/news.md</loc>
-    <lastmod>2025-03-13T03:00:38+00:00</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2025-03-15T22:16:27+00:00</lastmod>
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/README.html</loc>
@@ -15478,7 +15478,7 @@
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/status.json</loc>
-    <lastmod>2025-03-13T03:00:54+00:00</lastmod>
+    <lastmod>2025-03-15T22:17:26+00:00</lastmod>
 </url>
 <url>
     <loc>https://www.ioccc.org/thanks-for-help.html</loc>

status.html

@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@
         "no_comment" : "mandatory comment: because comments were removed from the original JSON spec",
         "IOCCC_status_version" : "1.0 2024-03-09",
         "contest_status" : "open",
-        "news_update" : "2025-03-13T03:00:38+00:00",
+        "news_update" : "2025-03-15T22:16:27+00:00",
         "status_update" : "2025-03-05T18:15:23+00:00"
     }</code></pre>
 

status.json

@@ -2,6 +2,6 @@
     "no_comment" : "mandatory comment: because comments were removed from the original JSON spec",
     "IOCCC_status_version" : "1.0 2024-03-09",
     "contest_status" : "open",
-    "news_update" : "2025-03-13T03:00:38+00:00",
+    "news_update" : "2025-03-15T22:16:27+00:00",
     "status_update" : "2025-03-05T18:15:23+00:00"
 }