method
DateTime.parse
DateTime.parse(text, pattern) -> int
Parses text into a DateTime by reading each token of pattern from the fixed position the pattern lays out; missing fields default to 1970-01-01 00:00:00. Returns -1 if a digit was expected but not found (so the caller can detect malformed input). The pattern must be a string literal and uses the same tokens as DateTime.format. text must match the pattern's fixed-width layout.
Example
program Demo {
handler Step phase Update {
let t = DateTime.parse("2026-08-30 07:05:09", "YYYY-MM-DD HH:mm:ss")
if t < 0 {
# malformed input
}
}
}