25.4 Converting to and from the Epoch ¶

We can use the following functions to convert between a timestamp and the number of seconds since the Epoch.

mbfl_declare_varref(SECONDS)
mbfl_declare_varref(TIMESTAMP)

mbfl_date_to_epoch_var _(SECONDS) '2024-08-22T06:27:24+0200'
"$SECONDS"      ⇒ 1724300844

mbfl_date_from_epoch_var _(TIMESTAMP) '1724300844'
"$TIMESTAMP"    ⇒ 2024-08-22T06:27:24+0200

Function: mbfl_date_to_epoch_var EPOCH_SECONDS_RV TIMESTAMP_SPEC ¶

Store in the result variable EPOCH_SECONDS_RV the number of seconds since the Epoch representing the timestamp TIMESTAMP_SPEC, which must be compatible with the option --date of date. If successful return true, otherwise return false.

Function: mbfl_date_from_epoch_var TIMESTAMP_RV EPOCH_SECONDS ¶

Store in the result variable TIMESTAMP_RV a timestamp description according to the format:

%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S%z

representing the number of seconds since the Epoch EPOCH_SECONDS. If successful return true, otherwise return false.