From d0bf9b4cdff5e7bf713d713bd84a12f697062541 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Mike Bostock <mbostock@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 May 2023 10:36:03 -0700
Subject: [PATCH 1/3] descending shorthand

---
 docs/features/facets.md                    |  4 ++--
 docs/features/scales.md                    |  4 ++--
 docs/marks/bar.md                          |  2 +-
 docs/transforms/group.md                   |  2 +-
 docs/transforms/sort.md                    |  4 ++--
 src/channel.d.ts                           |  5 ++++-
 src/channel.js                             |  3 +++
 src/mark.d.ts                              |  2 +-
 src/marks/dot.js                           |  4 +---
 src/transforms/basic.d.ts                  |  2 +-
 src/transforms/basic.js                    | 12 ++++++++++++
 src/transforms/dodge.js                    |  2 +-
 src/transforms/stack.js                    |  2 +-
 test/plots/athletes-nationality.ts         | 12 +++---------
 test/plots/ballot-status-race.ts           |  3 +--
 test/plots/d3-survey-2015.ts               |  2 +-
 test/plots/fruit-sales.ts                  | 10 ++--------
 test/plots/industry-unemployment-track.ts  |  2 +-
 test/plots/learning-poverty.ts             |  2 +-
 test/plots/metro-unemployment-ridgeline.ts |  2 +-
 test/plots/movies-profit-by-genre.ts       |  2 +-
 test/plots/movies-rating-by-genre.ts       |  5 ++---
 test/plots/penguin-annotated.ts            |  5 +----
 test/plots/us-population-state-age-dots.ts |  2 +-
 test/plots/us-population-state-age.ts      |  2 +-
 25 files changed, 48 insertions(+), 49 deletions(-)

diff --git a/docs/features/facets.md b/docs/features/facets.md
index 31fd211820..ff8fd962c4 100644
--- a/docs/features/facets.md
+++ b/docs/features/facets.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Plot.plot({
       y: "variety",
       fy: "site",
       stroke: "year",
-      sort: {y: "x", fy: "x", reduce: "median", reverse: true}
+      sort: {y: "-x", fy: "-x", reduce: "median"}
     })
   ]
 })
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ Plot.plot({
       fy: "site",
       stroke: "yield",
       strokeWidth: 2,
-      sort: {y: "x1", fy: "x1", reduce: "median", reverse: true}
+      sort: {y: "-x1", fy: "-x1", reduce: "median"}
     }))
   ]
 })
diff --git a/docs/features/scales.md b/docs/features/scales.md
index 52845cf646..75b82b2e7a 100644
--- a/docs/features/scales.md
+++ b/docs/features/scales.md
@@ -977,10 +977,10 @@ Plot.barY(alphabet, {x: "letter", y: "frequency", sort: {x: "y", reduce: "max"}}
 
 Generally speaking, a reducer only needs to be specified when there are multiple secondary values for a given primary value. See the [group transform](../transforms/group.md) for the list of supported reducers.
 
-For descending rather than ascending order, use the *reverse* option:
+For descending rather than ascending order, use the *reverse* option, or *-name* when referring to a channel:
 
 ```js
-Plot.barY(alphabet, {x: "letter", y: "frequency", sort: {x: "y", reverse: true}})
+Plot.barY(alphabet, {x: "letter", y: "frequency", sort: {x: "-y"}})
 ```
 
 An additional *limit* option truncates the domain to the first *n* values after sorting. If *limit* is negative, the last *n* values are used instead. Hence, a positive *limit* with *reverse* = true will return the top *n* values in descending order. If *limit* is an array [*lo*, *hi*], the *i*th values with *lo* ≤ *i* < *hi* will be selected. (Note that like the [basic filter transform](../transforms/filter.md), limiting the *x* domain here does not affect the computation of the *y* domain, which is computed independently without respect to filtering.)
diff --git a/docs/marks/bar.md b/docs/marks/bar.md
index 4b0397f73c..b00b722f92 100644
--- a/docs/marks/bar.md
+++ b/docs/marks/bar.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Ordinal domains are sorted naturally (alphabetically) by default. Either set the
 
 :::plot https://observablehq.com/@observablehq/plot-vertical-bars
 ```js
-Plot.barY(alphabet, {x: "letter", y: "frequency", sort: {x: "y", reverse: true}}).plot()
+Plot.barY(alphabet, {x: "letter", y: "frequency", sort: {x: "-y"}}).plot()
 ```
 :::
 
diff --git a/docs/transforms/group.md b/docs/transforms/group.md
index dd11175ceb..df85aea289 100644
--- a/docs/transforms/group.md
+++ b/docs/transforms/group.md
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Plot.plot({
   x: {label: null, tickRotate: 90},
   y: {grid: true},
   marks: [
-    Plot.barY(olympians, Plot.groupX({y: "count"}, {x: "sport", sort: {x: "y", reverse: true}})),
+    Plot.barY(olympians, Plot.groupX({y: "count"}, {x: "sport", sort: {x: "-y"}})),
     Plot.ruleY([0])
   ]
 })
diff --git a/docs/transforms/sort.md b/docs/transforms/sort.md
index d015f0ff28..02032dd4fc 100644
--- a/docs/transforms/sort.md
+++ b/docs/transforms/sort.md
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ Plot.plot({
       fill: "currentColor",
       stroke: "var(--vp-c-bg)",
       strokeWidth: 1,
-      sort: sorted ? {channel: "r", order: "descending"} : null
+      sort: sorted ? {channel: "-r"} : null
     }))
   ]
 })
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ Sorts the data by the specified *order*, which is one of:
 - a field name
 - a {*channel*, *order*} object
 
-In the object case, the **channel** option specifies the name of the channel, while the **order** option specifies *ascending* (the default) or *descending* order. For example, `sort: {channel: "r", order: "descending"}` will sort by descending radius (**r**).
+In the object case, the **channel** option specifies the name of the channel, while the **order** option specifies *ascending* (the default) or *descending* order. You can also use the shorthand *-name* to sort by descending order of the channel with the given *name*. For example, `sort: {channel: "-r"}` will sort by descending radius (**r**).
 
 In the function case, if the sort function does not take exactly one argument, it is interpreted as a comparator function; otherwise it is interpreted as an accessor function.
 
diff --git a/src/channel.d.ts b/src/channel.d.ts
index 1b10f889ec..cd6e0178fa 100644
--- a/src/channel.d.ts
+++ b/src/channel.d.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,9 @@ export type ChannelValueBinSpec = ChannelValue | ({value: ChannelValue} & BinOpt
  */
 export type ChannelValueDenseBinSpec = ChannelValue | ({value: ChannelValue; scale?: Channel["scale"]} & Omit<BinOptions, "interval">); // prettier-ignore
 
+/** A channel name, or an implied one for domain sorting. */
+type ChannelDomainName = ChannelName | "data" | "width" | "height";
+
 /**
  * The available inputs for imputing scale domains. In addition to a named
  * channel, an input may be specified as:
@@ -176,7 +179,7 @@ export type ChannelValueDenseBinSpec = ChannelValue | ({value: ChannelValue; sca
  * custom **reduce** function, as when the built-in single-channel reducers are
  * insufficient.
  */
-export type ChannelDomainValue = ChannelName | "data" | "width" | "height" | null;
+export type ChannelDomainValue = ChannelDomainName | `-${ChannelDomainName}` | null;
 
 /** Options for imputing scale domains from channel values. */
 export interface ChannelDomainOptions {
diff --git a/src/channel.js b/src/channel.js
index 100688908f..cdee13a69e 100644
--- a/src/channel.js
+++ b/src/channel.js
@@ -82,7 +82,10 @@ export function channelDomain(data, facets, channels, facetChannels, options) {
   for (const x in options) {
     if (!registry.has(x)) continue; // ignore unknown scale keys (including generic options)
     let {value: y, reverse = defaultReverse, reduce = defaultReduce, limit = defaultLimit} = maybeValue(options[x]);
+    const negate = y?.startsWith("-");
+    if (negate) y = y.slice(1);
     if (reverse === undefined) reverse = y === "width" || y === "height"; // default to descending for lengths
+    if (negate) reverse = !reverse;
     if (reduce == null || reduce === false) continue; // disabled reducer
     const X = x === "fx" || x === "fy" ? reindexFacetChannel(facets, facetChannels[x]) : findScaleChannel(channels, x);
     if (!X) throw new Error(`missing channel for scale: ${x}`);
diff --git a/src/mark.d.ts b/src/mark.d.ts
index 6061501e78..21921fdd79 100644
--- a/src/mark.d.ts
+++ b/src/mark.d.ts
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export interface MarkOptions {
    * with a *value* object and per-scale options:
    *
    * ```js
-   * sort: {y: {value: "x", reverse: true}}
+   * sort: {y: {value: "-x"}}
    * ```
    *
    * When sorting the mark’s index, the **sort** option is instead one of:
diff --git a/src/marks/dot.js b/src/marks/dot.js
index 1080e48f68..2d969444c6 100644
--- a/src/marks/dot.js
+++ b/src/marks/dot.js
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ const defaults = {
 };
 
 export function withDefaultSort(options) {
-  return options.sort === undefined && options.reverse === undefined
-    ? sort({channel: "r", order: "descending"}, options)
-    : options;
+  return options.sort === undefined && options.reverse === undefined ? sort({channel: "-r"}, options) : options;
 }
 
 export class Dot extends Mark {
diff --git a/src/transforms/basic.d.ts b/src/transforms/basic.d.ts
index cfc7c988b2..fddc507801 100644
--- a/src/transforms/basic.d.ts
+++ b/src/transforms/basic.d.ts
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ export type SortOrder =
   | CompareFunction
   | ChannelValue
   | {value?: ChannelValue; order?: CompareFunction | "ascending" | "descending"}
-  | {channel?: ChannelName; order?: CompareFunction | "ascending" | "descending"};
+  | {channel?: ChannelName | `-${ChannelName}`; order?: CompareFunction | "ascending" | "descending"};
 
 /**
  * Applies a transform to *options* to sort the mark’s index by the specified
diff --git a/src/transforms/basic.js b/src/transforms/basic.js
index 3b4fd032a5..ab6e90ddfe 100644
--- a/src/transforms/basic.js
+++ b/src/transforms/basic.js
@@ -121,6 +121,10 @@ function sortValue(value) {
         throw new Error(`invalid order: ${order}`);
     }
   }
+  if (channel?.startsWith("-")) {
+    channel = channel.slice(1);
+    order = reverseOrder(order);
+  }
   return (data, facets, channels) => {
     let V;
     if (channel === undefined) {
@@ -135,3 +139,11 @@ function sortValue(value) {
     return {data, facets: facets.map((I) => I.slice().sort(compareValue))};
   };
 }
+
+function reverseOrder(order) {
+  return order === ascendingDefined
+    ? descendingDefined
+    : order === descendingDefined
+    ? ascendingDefined
+    : (i, j) => order(j, i);
+}
diff --git a/src/transforms/dodge.js b/src/transforms/dodge.js
index 3f9b6a267a..23c20bd807 100644
--- a/src/transforms/dodge.js
+++ b/src/transforms/dodge.js
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ function dodge(y, x, anchor, padding, r, options) {
     let {channels, sort, reverse} = options;
     channels = maybeNamed(channels);
     if (channels?.r === undefined) options = {...options, channels: {...channels, r: {value: r, scale: "r"}}};
-    if (sort === undefined && reverse === undefined) options.sort = {channel: "r", order: "descending"};
+    if (sort === undefined && reverse === undefined) options.sort = {channel: "-r"};
   }
   return initializer(options, function (data, facets, channels, scales, dimensions, context) {
     let {[x]: X, r: R} = channels;
diff --git a/src/transforms/stack.js b/src/transforms/stack.js
index 1550d20e81..cad3675c54 100644
--- a/src/transforms/stack.js
+++ b/src/transforms/stack.js
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ function stack(x, y = one, kx, ky, {offset, order, reverse}, options) {
   const [Y2, setY2] = column(y);
   Y1.hint = Y2.hint = lengthy;
   offset = maybeOffset(offset);
-  order = maybeOrder(order, offset, ky);
+  order = maybeOrder(order, offset, ky); // TODO shorthand -order with reverse?
   return [
     basic(options, (data, facets, plotOptions) => {
       const X = x == null ? undefined : setX(maybeApplyInterval(valueof(data, x), plotOptions?.[kx]));
diff --git a/test/plots/athletes-nationality.ts b/test/plots/athletes-nationality.ts
index b5ea9a40fd..a3da9e658f 100644
--- a/test/plots/athletes-nationality.ts
+++ b/test/plots/athletes-nationality.ts
@@ -4,14 +4,8 @@ import * as d3 from "d3";
 export async function athletesNationality() {
   const athletes = await d3.csv<any>("data/athletes.csv", d3.autoType);
   return Plot.plot({
-    x: {
-      grid: true
-    },
-    y: {
-      label: null
-    },
-    marks: [
-      Plot.barX(athletes, Plot.groupY({x: "count"}, {y: "nationality", sort: {y: "x", reverse: true, limit: 20}}))
-    ]
+    x: {grid: true},
+    y: {label: null},
+    marks: [Plot.barX(athletes, Plot.groupY({x: "count"}, {y: "nationality", sort: {y: "-x", limit: 20}}))]
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/plots/ballot-status-race.ts b/test/plots/ballot-status-race.ts
index d546871fc0..8a5b314c27 100644
--- a/test/plots/ballot-status-race.ts
+++ b/test/plots/ballot-status-race.ts
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@ export async function ballotStatusRace() {
         title: (d) => `${d.percent.toFixed(1)}%`,
         sort: {
           fy: "data",
-          reduce: (data) => data.find((d) => d.status === "ACCEPTED").percent,
-          reverse: true
+          reduce: (data) => -data.find((d) => d.status === "ACCEPTED").percent
         }
       }),
       Plot.ruleX([0])
diff --git a/test/plots/d3-survey-2015.ts b/test/plots/d3-survey-2015.ts
index 1abb8a3bc1..3525910c6c 100644
--- a/test/plots/d3-survey-2015.ts
+++ b/test/plots/d3-survey-2015.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ function bars(groups, title) {
         y: ([key]) => key,
         fill: "steelblue",
         insetTop: 1,
-        sort: {y: "x", reverse: true}
+        sort: {y: "-x"}
       }),
       Plot.ruleX([0])
     ]
diff --git a/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts b/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts
index 0c3b0dd085..f79235ab2a 100644
--- a/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts
+++ b/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts
@@ -5,13 +5,7 @@ export async function fruitSales() {
   const sales = await d3.csv<any>("data/fruit-sales.csv", d3.autoType);
   return Plot.plot({
     marginLeft: 50,
-    y: {
-      label: null,
-      reverse: true
-    },
-    marks: [
-      Plot.barX(sales, Plot.groupY({x: "sum"}, {x: "units", y: "fruit", sort: {y: "x", reverse: true}})),
-      Plot.ruleX([0])
-    ]
+    y: {label: null, reverse: true},
+    marks: [Plot.barX(sales, Plot.groupY({x: "sum"}, {x: "units", y: "fruit", sort: {y: "-x"}})), Plot.ruleX([0])]
   });
 }
diff --git a/test/plots/industry-unemployment-track.ts b/test/plots/industry-unemployment-track.ts
index 6221f60832..0baa29c288 100644
--- a/test/plots/industry-unemployment-track.ts
+++ b/test/plots/industry-unemployment-track.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export async function industryUnemploymentTrack() {
         interval: "month",
         fill: "unemployed",
         title: "unemployed",
-        sort: {fy: "fill", reverse: true},
+        sort: {fy: "-fill"},
         inset: 0
       }),
       Plot.dotX(
diff --git a/test/plots/learning-poverty.ts b/test/plots/learning-poverty.ts
index 266e3bd8f3..d3714f6ba7 100644
--- a/test/plots/learning-poverty.ts
+++ b/test/plots/learning-poverty.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ export async function learningPoverty() {
         x: (d) => (d.type === "ok" ? -1 : 1) * d.share, // diverging bars
         y: "Country Name",
         fill: "type",
-        sort: {y: "x", reverse: true}
+        sort: {y: "-x"}
       }),
       Plot.ruleX([0])
     ]
diff --git a/test/plots/metro-unemployment-ridgeline.ts b/test/plots/metro-unemployment-ridgeline.ts
index cbeea3191c..4eef1335be 100644
--- a/test/plots/metro-unemployment-ridgeline.ts
+++ b/test/plots/metro-unemployment-ridgeline.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ export async function metroUnemploymentRidgeline() {
     },
     marks: [
       Plot.areaY(data, {x: "date", y: "unemployment", fill: "#eee"}),
-      Plot.line(data, {x: "date", y: "unemployment", sort: {fy: "y", reverse: true}}),
+      Plot.line(data, {x: "date", y: "unemployment", sort: {fy: "-y"}}),
       Plot.ruleY([0])
     ]
   });
diff --git a/test/plots/movies-profit-by-genre.ts b/test/plots/movies-profit-by-genre.ts
index f407be6c3f..f403f9973f 100644
--- a/test/plots/movies-profit-by-genre.ts
+++ b/test/plots/movies-profit-by-genre.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export async function moviesProfitByGenre() {
             x: Profit,
             stroke: "red",
             strokeWidth: 2,
-            sort: {y: "x", reverse: true}
+            sort: {y: "-x"}
           }
         )
       )
diff --git a/test/plots/movies-rating-by-genre.ts b/test/plots/movies-rating-by-genre.ts
index 97f0256413..4709bb5cb6 100644
--- a/test/plots/movies-rating-by-genre.ts
+++ b/test/plots/movies-rating-by-genre.ts
@@ -35,9 +35,8 @@ export async function moviesRatingByGenre() {
             stroke: "Major Genre",
             r: 2.5,
             sort: {
-              fy: "x",
-              reduce: "median",
-              reverse: true
+              fy: "-x",
+              reduce: "median"
             }
           }
         )
diff --git a/test/plots/penguin-annotated.ts b/test/plots/penguin-annotated.ts
index 3fa24ba587..2b06a872e6 100644
--- a/test/plots/penguin-annotated.ts
+++ b/test/plots/penguin-annotated.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@ export async function penguinAnnotated() {
     x: {insetRight: 10},
     marks: [
       Plot.frame(),
-      Plot.barX(
-        penguins,
-        Plot.groupY({x: "count"}, {y: "species", fill: "sex", title: "sex", sort: {y: "x", reverse: true}})
-      ),
+      Plot.barX(penguins, Plot.groupY({x: "count"}, {y: "species", fill: "sex", title: "sex", sort: {y: "-x"}})),
       Plot.text(["Count of penguins\ngrouped by species\n and colored by sex"], {
         frameAnchor: "bottom-right",
         dx: -3,
diff --git a/test/plots/us-population-state-age-dots.ts b/test/plots/us-population-state-age-dots.ts
index 978ce5d365..4ee923d675 100644
--- a/test/plots/us-population-state-age-dots.ts
+++ b/test/plots/us-population-state-age-dots.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export async function usPopulationStateAgeDots() {
           textAnchor: "end",
           dx: -6,
           text: "state",
-          sort: {y: "x", reduce: "min", reverse: true}
+          sort: {y: "-x", reduce: "min"}
         })
       )
     ]
diff --git a/test/plots/us-population-state-age.ts b/test/plots/us-population-state-age.ts
index 501b0a12a9..d9a3b91c5d 100644
--- a/test/plots/us-population-state-age.ts
+++ b/test/plots/us-population-state-age.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ export async function usPopulationStateAgeGrouped() {
         y: "population",
         fill: "age",
         title: "age",
-        sort: {fx: "y", reverse: true, limit: 6}
+        sort: {fx: "-y", limit: 6}
       }),
       Plot.ruleY([0])
     ]

From bef0ec98085669f0eb1a979af8bdaf534087aaad Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Mike Bostock <mbostock@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 19 May 2023 10:42:12 -0700
Subject: [PATCH 2/3] no double reverse

---
 test/plots/fruit-sales.ts | 4 ++--
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-)

diff --git a/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts b/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts
index f79235ab2a..482ac61b5c 100644
--- a/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts
+++ b/test/plots/fruit-sales.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ export async function fruitSales() {
   const sales = await d3.csv<any>("data/fruit-sales.csv", d3.autoType);
   return Plot.plot({
     marginLeft: 50,
-    y: {label: null, reverse: true},
-    marks: [Plot.barX(sales, Plot.groupY({x: "sum"}, {x: "units", y: "fruit", sort: {y: "-x"}})), Plot.ruleX([0])]
+    y: {label: null},
+    marks: [Plot.barX(sales, Plot.groupY({x: "sum"}, {x: "units", y: "fruit", sort: {y: "x"}})), Plot.ruleX([0])]
   });
 }

From a05f6fd3c2205c9eae48fe763bbd3a96fbedb93e Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: =?UTF-8?q?Philippe=20Rivi=C3=A8re?= <fil@rezo.net>
Date: Sun, 21 May 2023 20:13:54 +0200
Subject: [PATCH 3/3] more descending shorthand

---
 src/reducer.d.ts                              | 9 +++++++++
 src/transforms/basic.js                       | 4 ++++
 src/transforms/bin.js                         | 4 ++++
 src/transforms/group.d.ts                     | 4 ++--
 src/transforms/group.js                       | 4 ++++
 src/transforms/stack.js                       | 6 +++++-
 test/plots/music-revenue.ts                   | 3 +--
 test/plots/penguin-sex-mass-culmen-species.ts | 3 +--
 8 files changed, 30 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/src/reducer.d.ts b/src/reducer.d.ts
index f567a77a5b..b869efa47f 100644
--- a/src/reducer.d.ts
+++ b/src/reducer.d.ts
@@ -80,3 +80,12 @@ export interface ReducerImplementation<S = any, T = S> {
  * - an object that implements the *reduceIndex* method
  */
 export type Reducer = ReducerName | ReducerFunction | ReducerImplementation;
+
+/**
+ * How to reduce aggregated (binned or grouped) values for sorting; one of:
+ *
+ * - a named reducer implementation such as *count* or *sum*
+ * - a function that takes an array of values and returns the reduced value
+ * - an object that implements the *reduceIndex* method
+ */
+export type ReducerSort = `-${ReducerName}` | Reducer;
diff --git a/src/transforms/basic.js b/src/transforms/basic.js
index ab6e90ddfe..0fd61cb5e1 100644
--- a/src/transforms/basic.js
+++ b/src/transforms/basic.js
@@ -125,6 +125,10 @@ function sortValue(value) {
     channel = channel.slice(1);
     order = reverseOrder(order);
   }
+  if (typeof value === "string" && value?.startsWith("-")) {
+    value = value.slice(1);
+    order = reverseOrder(order);
+  }
   return (data, facets, channels) => {
     let V;
     if (channel === undefined) {
diff --git a/src/transforms/bin.js b/src/transforms/bin.js
index f929abfedf..75a1316c38 100644
--- a/src/transforms/bin.js
+++ b/src/transforms/bin.js
@@ -98,6 +98,10 @@ function binn(
   // Compute the outputs.
   outputs = maybeBinOutputs(outputs, inputs);
   reduceData = maybeBinReduce(reduceData, identity);
+  if (typeof sort === "string" && sort.startsWith("-")) {
+    sort = sort.slice(1);
+    reverse = !reverse;
+  }
   sort = sort == null ? undefined : maybeBinOutput("sort", sort, inputs);
   filter = filter == null ? undefined : maybeBinEvaluator("filter", filter, inputs);
 
diff --git a/src/transforms/group.d.ts b/src/transforms/group.d.ts
index 24b422aa40..50d661b115 100644
--- a/src/transforms/group.d.ts
+++ b/src/transforms/group.d.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import type {ChannelReducers, ChannelValue} from "../channel.js";
-import type {Reducer} from "../reducer.js";
+import type {ReducerSort, Reducer} from "../reducer.js";
 import type {Transformed} from "./basic.js";
 
 /** Options for outputs of the group (and bin) transform. */
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ export interface GroupOutputOptions<T = Reducer> {
    * Plot.groupX({y: "count", sort: "count"}, {fill: "sex", x: "sport"})
    * ```
    */
-  sort?: T | null;
+  sort?: ReducerSort | null;
 
   /** If true, reverse the order of generated groups; defaults to false. */
   reverse?: boolean;
diff --git a/src/transforms/group.js b/src/transforms/group.js
index 390a711620..8159ed844e 100644
--- a/src/transforms/group.js
+++ b/src/transforms/group.js
@@ -78,6 +78,10 @@ function groupn(
   // Compute the outputs.
   outputs = maybeOutputs(outputs, inputs);
   reduceData = maybeReduce(reduceData, identity);
+  if (typeof sort === "string" && sort.startsWith("-")) {
+    sort = sort.slice(1);
+    reverse = !reverse;
+  }
   sort = sort == null ? undefined : maybeOutput("sort", sort, inputs);
   filter = filter == null ? undefined : maybeEvaluator("filter", filter, inputs);
 
diff --git a/src/transforms/stack.js b/src/transforms/stack.js
index cad3675c54..7366c57fb1 100644
--- a/src/transforms/stack.js
+++ b/src/transforms/stack.js
@@ -81,7 +81,11 @@ function stack(x, y = one, kx, ky, {offset, order, reverse}, options) {
   const [Y2, setY2] = column(y);
   Y1.hint = Y2.hint = lengthy;
   offset = maybeOffset(offset);
-  order = maybeOrder(order, offset, ky); // TODO shorthand -order with reverse?
+  if (typeof order === "string" && order.startsWith("-")) {
+    order = order.slice(1);
+    reverse = !reverse;
+  }
+  order = maybeOrder(order, offset, ky);
   return [
     basic(options, (data, facets, plotOptions) => {
       const X = x == null ? undefined : setX(maybeApplyInterval(valueof(data, x), plotOptions?.[kx]));
diff --git a/test/plots/music-revenue.ts b/test/plots/music-revenue.ts
index 7bd9dc8230..c3eb49e64f 100644
--- a/test/plots/music-revenue.ts
+++ b/test/plots/music-revenue.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ export async function musicRevenue() {
     x: "year",
     y: "revenue",
     z: "format",
-    order: "appearance",
-    reverse: true
+    order: "-appearance"
   };
   return Plot.plot({
     y: {
diff --git a/test/plots/penguin-sex-mass-culmen-species.ts b/test/plots/penguin-sex-mass-culmen-species.ts
index 86a0db7c97..f2cc9294e7 100644
--- a/test/plots/penguin-sex-mass-culmen-species.ts
+++ b/test/plots/penguin-sex-mass-culmen-species.ts
@@ -25,8 +25,7 @@ export async function penguinSexMassCulmenSpecies() {
         Plot.bin(
           {
             r: "count",
-            sort: "count",
-            reverse: true
+            sort: "-count"
           },
           {
             x: "body_mass_g",