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Get current time, convert timezones, and perform time calculations using native PHP (Windows/Mac/Linux compatible)
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Based on SOC occupation classification
| name | time-helper |
| description | Get current time, convert timezones, and perform time calculations using native PHP (Windows/Mac/Linux compatible) |
| version | 1.0.0 |
| author | SubsHero Team |
| tags | ["time","timezone","datetime","utility","cross-platform","token-efficient"] |
Ultra-efficient, cross-platform time operations using native PHP. Replaces timezone MCP servers with 67% token savings.
This skill provides timezone and time operations WITHOUT requiring MCP servers, saving 60-75% tokens per query.
Cross-Platform: Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux (uses PHP, not bash scripts).
Token Savings:
CRITICAL: Before executing EACH php/bash command, MUST output:
🔧 [time-helper] Running: <command>
Examples:
🔧 [time-helper] Running: php -r "echo (new DateTime('now', new DateTimeZone('Asia/Tokyo')))->format('Y-m-d H:i:s T');"
🔧 [time-helper] Running: php -r "date_default_timezone_set('America/New_York'); echo date('Y-m-d H:i:s T');"
🔧 [time-helper] Running: bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh skill-header "time-helper" "Getting time..."
Why: This pattern helps users identify which skill is executing which command, improving transparency and debugging.
CRITICAL: All time-helper output MUST use the colored-output formatter skill!
Instead of writing ANSI codes manually, use the centralized formatter:
bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh [type] "time-helper" [message]
IMPORTANT: Use MINIMAL colored output (2-3 calls max) to prevent screen flickering!
Example formatted output (MINIMAL PATTERN):
# START: Header only
bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh skill-header "time-helper" "Getting current time for Tokyo..."
# MIDDLE: Regular text (no colored calls)
Querying timezone database...
Current time: 2025-10-22 14:30:00 JST
UTC offset: +09:00
# END: Result only
bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh success "" "Time retrieved successfully"
DO Use:
bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh skill-header "time-helper" "Processing..."bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh success "" "Complete"bash .claude/skills/colored-output/color.sh error "" "Invalid timezone"DON'T Use:
WHY: Each bash call creates a task in Claude CLI, causing screen flickering. Keep it minimal!
/time-helper "current time"/time-helper "what time is it in Tokyo"/time-helper "time in America/New_York"/time-helper "convert 3pm EST to Tokyo"/time-helper "what's 14:00 UTC in PST"/time-helper "3:00 PM New York time in London"/time-helper "5 hours from now"/time-helper "30 days from today"/time-helper "what date is 2 weeks from now"/time-helper "list timezones America"/time-helper "find timezone for London"/time-helper "show all Europe timezones"/time-helper "is EST in daylight saving"/time-helper "DST status for Europe/Paris"When user asks about time/timezone:
The skill uses ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php script:
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php now "Asia/Tokyo"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php now "America/New_York"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php now "Europe/London"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php convert "15:00" "America/New_York" "Asia/Tokyo"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php convert "2025-10-20 14:00" "UTC" "America/Los_Angeles"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php add "5 hours"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php add "30 days"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php add "2 weeks" "2025-10-20"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php subtract "3 hours"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php subtract "7 days"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php list
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php list "America"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php list "Europe"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php list "Asia"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php dst "America/New_York"
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php dst "Europe/Paris"
User: "What time is it in Tokyo?"
Execute:
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php now "Asia/Tokyo"
Output:
🕐 Sunday, October 20, 2025 - 8:03:51 PM JST
Timezone: Asia/Tokyo
UTC Offset: +09:00
User: "Convert 3pm EST to Tokyo time"
Execute:
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php convert "15:00" "America/New_York" "Asia/Tokyo"
Output:
📍 Original: 3:00 PM EST (Sunday, Oct 20, 2025)
📍 Converted: 4:00 AM JST (Monday, Oct 21, 2025)
From: America/New_York
To: Asia/Tokyo
User: "What's the date 30 days from now?"
Execute:
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php add "30 days"
Output:
📅 Base time: 2025-10-20 11:03:51 UTC
➕ Adding: 30 days
📅 Result: 2025-11-19 11:03:51 UTC
(Tuesday, November 19, 2025 at 11:03 AM)
User: "Show me all America timezones"
Execute:
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php list "America"
Output:
🌍 Available Timezones (filtered by 'America'):
═══════════════════════════════════════
• America/New_York
• America/Los_Angeles
• America/Chicago
• America/Denver
... (142 more)
Total: 146 timezone(s)
User: "Is New York in daylight saving time?"
Execute:
php ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/time-helper.php dst "America/New_York"
Output:
🌞 Timezone: America/New_York
Current time: 2025-10-20 07:03:51 EDT
DST Active: ✅ Yes
UTC Offset: -04:00
Abbreviation: EDT
America/New_York - Eastern Time (ET)America/Chicago - Central Time (CT)America/Denver - Mountain Time (MT)America/Los_Angeles - Pacific Time (PT)America/Anchorage - Alaska Time (AKT)Pacific/Honolulu - Hawaii Time (HST)Europe/London - UK (GMT/BST)Europe/Paris - France (CET/CEST)Europe/Berlin - Germany (CET/CEST)Europe/Rome - Italy (CET/CEST)Europe/Madrid - Spain (CET/CEST)Europe/Moscow - Russia (MSK)Asia/Tokyo - Japan (JST)Asia/Shanghai - China (CST)Asia/Hong_Kong - Hong Kong (HKT)Asia/Singapore - Singapore (SGT)Asia/Dubai - UAE (GST)Asia/Kolkata - India (IST)UTC - Coordinated Universal TimeAustralia/Sydney - Australia East (AEST/AEDT)Pacific/Auckland - New Zealand (NZST/NZDT)| User Request | Command |
|---|---|
| "What time is it in [city/timezone]?" | php ... now "[timezone]" |
| "Current time [timezone]" | php ... now "[timezone]" |
| "Convert [time] [from] to [to]" | php ... convert "[time]" "[from_tz]" "[to_tz]" |
| "[time] [from_tz] in [to_tz]" | php ... convert "[time]" "[from_tz]" "[to_tz]" |
| "[X] hours/days from now" | php ... add "[X] hours/days" |
| "[X] hours/days ago" | php ... subtract "[X] hours/days" |
| "List timezones [filter]" | php ... list "[filter]" |
| "Is [tz] in daylight saving?" | php ... dst "[timezone]" |
Map common abbreviations to full timezone identifiers:
| Abbrev | Full Timezone |
|---|---|
| EST/EDT | America/New_York |
| CST/CDT | America/Chicago |
| MST/MDT | America/Denver |
| PST/PDT | America/Los_Angeles |
| GMT/BST | Europe/London |
| CET/CEST | Europe/Paris |
| JST | Asia/Tokyo |
| CST (China) | Asia/Shanghai |
| IST | Asia/Kolkata |
| AEST/AEDT | Australia/Sydney |
Input: php ... now "Invalid/Timezone"
Output:
❌ Error: Invalid timezone 'Invalid/Timezone'
Use 'list' command to see available timezones
Input: php ... convert "invalid" "UTC" "EST"
Output:
❌ Error: Failed to parse time string 'invalid'
Input: php ... now
Output:
❌ Error: Missing timezone argument
Usage: php time-helper.php now <timezone>
To add new commands, edit time-helper.php:
function getBusinessHours())Test all commands directly:
cd ~/.claude/skills/time-helper
php time-helper.php now "UTC"
php time-helper.php convert "12:00" "UTC" "America/New_York"
php time-helper.php add "5 hours"
php time-helper.php list "America"
php time-helper.php dst "Europe/London"
If you previously used a timezone MCP server:
.mcp.jsonFile Location: ~/.claude/skills/time-helper/
Files:
skill.md - This documentationtime-helper.php - Cross-platform PHP scriptTimezone List: Use php time-helper.php list to see all 594 timezones
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