Wikipedia:User preferences for BCE/CE notation

The situation

 * "Dates in the Julian and Gregorian calendar are either AD or BC. The "AD" or "BC" bit isn't always used. For example, if someone asked you what this year is, you'd probably say "2005" not "AD 2005"."
 * The AD/BC notation is understood worldwide.
 * However, some have argued that as the etymology of the AD/BC notation has Christian roots, the notation should be replaced so that it doesn't have Christian roots, preferring instead to use BCE/CE notation. In some fields and in some areas of the world, this notation has gained currency, but it has not gained currency amongst the general population worldwide.
 * There have been recent problems on the English Wikipedia with those supporting the usage of BCE/CE notation encouraging its wholesale use across the English Wikipedia. This has been met with similarly strong resistance from those who do not wish to see it adopted wholesale.
 * We should bear in mind both that we exist for our readers and that we need good editors. It therefore makes sense that a new "preference" functionality is developed. This preference would allow registered users who want to see BCE/CE notation to see it throughout Wikipedia. Unregistered users and registered users who have not chosen to see BCE/CE notation would see BC/AD notation.

What this page is doing
This page sets out the specifications of what would need to be programmed into the software. It assumes that, to work, all dates would need to be wikified - which here means that some of the text appears in double square brackets. Currently, not all dates are wikified. If this specification is adopted, the MoS will change to make clear that all dates should be wikified so the specification works.

The aim of this page is to help a developer develop the solution.

What this page is not doing
The solution in this page is not currently scheduled for development. We would still need to find a developer willing to take this on. However, it is hoped that by setting out what needs doing, a developer would need to spend far less time thinking through the programming and therefore may be more inclined to help.

Single years BC
This specification sets out how single years BC may be wikified and how they should appear on screen depending on whether a user preference for BCE/CE has been set or not. The example year is 100 BC.

Single years AD
This specification sets out how single years AD may be wikified and how they should appear on screen depending on whether a user preference for BCE/CE has been set or not. The example year is AD 100.

Decades BC
This specification sets out how single years BC may be wikified and how they should appear on screen depending on whether a user preference for BCE/CE has been set or not. The example decade is the 380s BC.

Decades AD
This specification sets out how single years AD may be wikified and how they should appear on screen depending on whether a user preference for BCE/CE has been set or not. The example decade is the AD 90s.