Overview of mcp-datetime

The mcp‑datetime server is a lightweight, Python‑based MCP (Model Context Protocol) service designed to give Claude Desktop and other AI assistants instant, reliable access to formatted date‑time strings. It solves a common pain point for developers and content creators: the need to embed accurate timestamps, file‑friendly identifiers, or locale‑specific dates within generated text without writing custom code each time. By exposing a single tool, the server centralizes all formatting logic, ensuring consistency across projects and eliminating duplication of effort.

At its core, the server offers a rich set of predefined format names—ranging from simple ISO‑like dates (, ) to Japanese‑style representations (, ) and filename‑optimized strings (). Each format is defined by a clear, human‑readable name and returns a string that can be dropped directly into documentation, file names, or logs. The tool accepts a mandatory argument and returns the corresponding string, making it trivial for an AI assistant to ask for “the current time in format” and receive a correctly formatted response.

For developers integrating Claude into automated workflows, mcp‑datetime offers several tangible benefits:

• Zero‑configuration formatting: No need to embed date libraries or locale settings in every script; the MCP server handles all variations centrally.
• Locale support: Japanese formatting is built in, which is especially useful for applications targeting Japanese audiences or generating bilingual content.
• File‑friendly outputs: The and compact formats are pre‑tested for use in file names, avoiding illegal characters or excessive length.
• Timezone awareness: The server respects the system’s timezone, ensuring that timestamps reflect the correct local time without additional configuration.

Typical use cases include generating timestamped markdown files for documentation, inserting localized dates into chatbot responses, or creating unique identifiers for versioned assets. In a CI/CD pipeline, an AI assistant could call to tag build artifacts with precise timestamps, while a customer support bot might provide users with the current date in their preferred format. Because the service is written in Python 3.12+ and relies on MCP 1.1.1, it integrates seamlessly with the Claude Desktop App’s existing tool registry and can be deployed on macOS environments with minimal effort.

Overall, mcp‑datetime stands out as a focused, reliable solution for any scenario that requires consistent, locale‑aware date and time formatting within AI‑driven workflows.