MCP Simple Timeserver MCP Server: Real-Time Timestamps for AI Applications

Overview: What is MCP Simple Timeserver?

MCP Simple Timeserver is an essential MCP (Model Context Protocol) server designed to alleviate a critical design oversight in Claude, Anthropic's AI model. The server introduces real-time timestamp support by providing two main functionalities:

• get_time: This function retrieves the current local time and timezone information from the user's machine.
• get_utc: It fetches the current UTC time using an NTP (Network Time Protocol) time server.

These tools enable Claude to understand the current date and time at the user's location, enhancing its capabilities in various ways. For instance, it allows Claude to calculate the duration between two interactions with the same user. This information is invaluable for context-aware applications that rely on timing for their functionality.

🔧 Core Features & MCP Capabilities

Real-Time Time Zone Support

The get_time feature leverages the local system’s clock and timezone settings to provide accurate timestamps, ensuring that Claude can track when a message was sent by the user or how much time has passed since a previous interaction. This real-time data is crucial for applications that need to manage historical context effectively.

Precise UTC Time Stamp

The get_utc feature relies on an NTP server to ensure the timestamp accuracy, which is essential in applications requiring precise timing, such as event logging or scheduling tasks.

By integrating with the MCP Simple Timeserver, these features become available across a wide range of AI applications, including Claude Desktop, Continue, and Cursor. The server adheres to the MCP protocol, making it versatile for diverse use cases.

⚙️ MCP Architecture & Protocol Implementation

The MCP Protocol is designed to standardize interactions between different AI applications and external tools or data sources. It ensures seamless interoperability by defining a common language for communication. For the MCP Simple Timeserver:

• Command Execution: The server runs as a Python script, which can be executed via python -m mcp_simple_timeserver.
• API Endpoints: Exposes HTTP endpoints for fetching local and UTC times, adhering to the MCP protocol standards.
• MCP Client Compatibility Matrix:

  MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts	Status
  Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
  Continue	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
  Cursor	❌	✅	❌	Tools Only

This matrix highlights the broad compatibility of the server with various MCP clients, including mainstream applications like Claude Desktop and Continue.

🚀 Getting Started with Installation

Installing via Smithery

To install mcp-simple-timeserver for use with Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-simple-timeserver --client claude

Manual Installation

1. Install the Module Using pip:

   pip install mcp-simple-timeserver
   

2. Configure in MCP Client (Claude Desktop App): Under Mac OS, open your config.json and add or modify the mcpServers section as follows:

   "mcpServers": {
     "simple-timeserver": {
       "command": "python",
       "args": ["-m", "mcp_simple_timeserver"]
     }
   }
   

3. Windows Configuration: First, determine the path to your Python executable using where python in the Command Prompt.

   Typical configuration:

   "mcpServers": {
     "simple-timeserver": {
       "command": "C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Python\\Python311\\python.exe",
       "args": ["-m", "mcp_simple_timeserver"]
     }
   }
   

💡 Key Use Cases in AI Workflows

Use Case 1: Event Logging and Time Sequencing

AI applications often require precise time-stamped logs for debugging or auditing purposes. By integrating get_time and get_utc, these applications can maintain a detailed log of events, ensuring that each event is timestamped accurately according to the local timezone and UTC.

Use Case 2: Delay Calculations in User Interaction Management

In scenarios where timing between user interactions needs to be calculated, such as chatbot response optimization or task scheduling, get_time provides the necessary timestamps. This data allows for accurate delay calculations, improving user experience by ensuring timely and context-aware responses.

🔌 Integration with MCP Clients

The following diagram illustrates the flow of communication between an AI application (MCP Client) and the Simple Timeserver using the MCP Protocol:

graph TD
    A[AI Application] -->|MCP Client| B[MCP Protocol]
    B --> C[MCP Server: mcp-simple-timeserver]
    C --> D[Data Source/Tool]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

This diagram highlights the streamlined process of data exchange, ensuring that relevant timestamps are collected and transmitted to AI applications for processing.

📊 Performance & Compatibility Matrix

Real-Time Performance

The server is designed to run efficiently with minimal overhead. It leverages local system resources for optimal performance when fetching timestamps, minimizing latency in AI application workflows.

Compatibility Summary

Tool	MCP Simple Timeserver
Function	Timestamps & UTC Time
Status	Fully Compatible

This compatibility ensures that the server works seamlessly with various tools and utilities necessary for accurate timestamping.

🛠️ Advanced Configuration & Security

Environment Variables

To configure environment variables, use the env section in your config.json. For example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "[server-name]": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-[name]"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Ensure that environment variables are kept secure, especially if containing sensitive information like API keys.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How does the get_time function retrieve timezone information?

The get_time function fetches timezone data from the local machine's clock settings, providing accurate time zones regardless of the physical location.

Q2: Can this server be used with non-MCP clients?

No, this specific server is designed to work with MCP-compliant clients. Using it with non-standard clients may not yield expected results and could lead to integration issues.

Q3: How does get_utc handle network downtimes?

In the event of NTP server downtime or network latency, get_utc retries fetching data until a successful response is received, ensuring consistent UTC time readings.

Q4: What happens if multiple servers request timestamps simultaneously?

The server handles concurrent requests efficiently, queuing and processing them as needed to ensure that all clients receive accurate and timely timestamp information.

Q5: Can I customize the output format of the timestamps returned by get_time and get_utc?

The output is currently configured for standard formats but can be customized through additional configuration options or custom hooks in the server script.

👨‍💻 Development & Contribution Guidelines

Contributions are encouraged to enhance functionality and improve performance. To contribute, follow these steps:

1. Fork the Repository: Go to the GitHub repository and fork it.
2. Clone the Forked Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/mcp-simple-timeserver.git
   

3. Install Dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

4. Make Your Changes: Adjust the code as needed to improve features or add new functionalities.
5. Run Tests: Ensure that all tests pass.

To contribute a feature, submit a pull request explaining your changes and their benefits. Contributors can also raise issues for bug reports or improvements.

🌐 MCP Ecosystem & Resources

For more information on MCP servers and integration best practices, visit the MCP GitHub repository and refer to the official documentation.

By integrating MCP Simple Timeserver into your AI applications, you enhance their ability to handle real-time timestamps accurately. This capability is crucial for maintaining context-awareness and improving user experience through precise time management.