luatime — Python‑style Time Module for Lua

This project was created because I wanted Lua developers to experience the same simplicity and power of Python’s built‑in time module. The goal of this library is to give you function names, behaviors, inputs, and outputs identical to Python’s time module`, but fully implemented in pure Lua, working on all operating systems.

If you know Python’s time, then you already know this module.

Installation

You can install this module with LuaRocks forever.

luarocks install luatime

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Module Name

The module must be required exactly like Python with one difference just in its name:

local luatime = require("luatime")

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Full Documentation:

All function names and parameters match Python’s time module.

1. luatime.time()

Returns the current time in seconds since the epoch (UNIX timestamp).

Example

local now = luatime.time()
print(now)

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2. luatime.sleep(secs)

Pauses execution for the given number of seconds.

Example

luatime.sleep(2)
print("2 seconds passed")

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3. luatime.monotonic()

Returns a clock value that always increases. Cannot go backward.

Example

local t1 = luatime.monotonic()
luatime.sleep(1)
local t2 = luatime.monotonic()
print(t2 - t1)

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4. luatime.perf_counter()

High‑precision performance timer (alias of monotonic).

Example

local t = luatime.perf_counter()
for i = 1, 1e6 do end
print(luatime.perf_counter() - t)

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5. luatime.process_time()

Returns CPU time used by the program.

Example

local t = luatime.process_time()
for i = 1, 5e6 do end
print(luatime.process_time() - t)

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6. luatime.ctime([secs])

Converts a timestamp to a human‑readable string.

Example

print(luatime.ctime())
print(luatime.ctime(0))

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7. luatime.localtime([secs])

Returns a table representing the local time.

Example

local t = luatime.localtime()
print(t.year, t.month, t.day)

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8. luatime.gmtime([secs])

Returns a table representing UTC time.

Example

local t = luatime.gmtime()
print(t.hour)

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9. luatime.mktime(tbl)

Converts a time table back into a timestamp.

Example

local ts = luatime.mktime{year=2025, month=1, day=1, hour=0}
print(ts)

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10. luatime.strftime(fmt, [tuple])

Formats a time structure into a string.

Example

print(luatime.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", luatime.localtime()))

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Comparison Table — Python vs Lua Version

Python Function	Lua Function	Same Behavior
time()	luatime.time()	✔️
sleep()	luatime.sleep()	✔️
monotonic()	luatime.monotonic()	✔️
perf_counter()	luatime.perf_counter()	✔️
process_time()	luatime.process_time()	✔️
ctime()	luatime.ctime()	✔️
localtime()	luatime.localtime()	✔️
gmtime()	luatime.gmtime()	✔️
mktime()	luatime.mktime()	✔️
strftime()	luatime.strftime()	✔️

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Final Note

This library exists so that developers who already know Python’s time can use identical functions in Lua. My goal was to make your transition between languages easier, cleaner, and more enjoyable.