Unix Timestamps MCP Server
@Ivor
A simple MCP server that does one thing only - help your LLM to use current unix timestamps. Something that models are currently struggling with, partially due to knowledge cutoffs and not really knowing where in time they are.
Overview
What is Unix Timestamps MCP Server?
A lightweight MCP server that converts ISO 8601 date/time strings to Unix timestamps (seconds since the epoch). It’s designed for developers using MCP clients like Claude Desktop who need quick timestamp conversions.
How to use Unix Timestamps MCP Server?
Install and configure by adding the server to your MCP client’s settings file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json) with the command npx -y github:Ivor/unix-timestamps-mcp. Then invoke the tool iso8601_to_unix(iso8601: string) via your client to get the timestamp.
Key features of Unix Timestamps MCP Server
- Converts ISO 8601 strings to Unix timestamps
- Basic input validation using JavaScript’s Date parser
- Clear error messages for invalid inputs
- Instant deployment via npx without local install
- Client configuration for Claude Desktop included
Use cases of Unix Timestamps MCP Server
- Converting a meeting time in ISO 8601 to a Unix timestamp for scripting
- Parsing API response timestamps into epoch format for programmatic use
- Integrating timestamp conversion into MCP‑based workflow tools
- Teaching Unix epoch concepts with real‑time examples in a chat client
FAQ from Unix Timestamps MCP Server
What does Unix Timestamps MCP Server do?
It provides a single tool (iso8601_to_unix) that accepts an ISO 8601 date/time string and returns the corresponding Unix timestamp (seconds since 1970‑01‑01).
What are the prerequisites?
Node.js version 18 or higher and npm (or npx) are required to run the server.
How do I configure it with Claude Desktop?
Add the entry shown in the README to your claude_desktop_config.json under mcpServers, using npx as the command and the GitHub repository as the argument.
What happens if I provide an invalid date string?
The server returns an error message explaining that the input could not be parsed as a valid ISO 8601 date/time.
Is the project licensed?
Yes, it is released under the MIT License.
