18.1.5 Outputting Diffs in Timestamp Order

Applying patch to a multiple-file diff can result in files whose timestamps are out of order. GNU patch has options to restore the timestamps of the updated files (see Updating Timestamps on Patched Files), but sometimes it is useful to generate a patch that works even if the recipient does not have GNU patch, or does not use these options. One way to do this would be to implement a diff option to output diffs in timestamp order.