MCP Time Server

Overview

The MCP Time Server is a lightweight, Python‑based microservice that exposes time‑related utilities to AI assistants through the Model Context Protocol. It solves a common pain point for developers: reliably obtaining accurate, timezone‑aware timestamps and converting between timezones without having to embed complex logic or external services in their applications. By centralizing these operations behind a single MCP endpoint, the server eliminates duplicate code and ensures consistent handling of daylight‑saving rules, leap seconds, and IANA timezone data.

At its core, the server offers two primary tools. The first retrieves the current time for any IANA timezone, returning not only the local clock value but also metadata such as the zone’s abbreviation and whether it is currently observing daylight‑saving time. The second tool converts a user‑supplied 24‑hour clock value from one timezone to another, providing both the source and target timestamps as well as the calculated offset difference. These operations are wrapped in Pydantic models that validate inputs and guard against malformed data, giving developers confidence that the server will behave predictably even when called from untrusted sources.

Key capabilities include asynchronous handling via asyncio, allowing high‑throughput workloads without blocking; flexible configuration through environment variables or YAML files, which lets teams tailor the service to their deployment environment; and a clean, declarative API that integrates seamlessly with any MCP‑compatible client. The server’s design encourages reuse: a single instance can serve multiple assistants or microservices, reducing operational overhead and network latency.

Real‑world scenarios where the MCP Time Server shines are plentiful. Scheduling assistants can query the server to generate local meeting times for participants spread across continents. Log aggregation tools can standardize timestamps before ingestion, ensuring chronological consistency regardless of the source system’s clock. Even simple chatbots that report “current time” can delegate to this server, guaranteeing accuracy and compliance with regional regulations. Because the service is stateless and idempotent, it can be deployed behind a load balancer or in serverless environments without additional state management.

What sets this MCP Time Server apart is its blend of simplicity and robustness. By leveraging the well‑maintained library for timezone calculations, it stays up to date with the latest IANA updates. Its async architecture means it can handle hundreds of requests per second on modest hardware, making it suitable for both prototype and production workloads. For developers already using MCP to connect AI assistants to external tools, this server provides a plug‑and‑play solution that removes the need for custom timezone logic and ensures that time data is both accurate and reliable.