sub starttimestamp() {
  my $st = localtime;
  return sprintf( "%04d-%02d-%02dT%02d:%02d:%02d.000-0700",
                  $st->year + 1900, $st->mon + 1, $st->mday,
                  $st->hour, $st->min, $st->sec );
}

sub endtimestamp() {
  my $et = localtime;
  return sprintf( "%04d-%02d-%02dT%02d:%02d:%02d.000-0700",
                  $et->year + 1900, $et->mon + 1, $et->mday,
                  $et->hour, $et->min + 15, $et->sec );
}
[download]

I'd start with making that easier to extend (and maintain). The snippet uses the default (builtin) localtime function, not the one returning a hashref or an object:

sub timestamp
{
    my @st = localtime (shift);
    return sprintf "%04d-%02d-%02dT%02d:%02d:%02d.000-0700",
        $st[5] + 1900, ++$st[4], @st[3,2,1,0];
    }

sub starttimestamp  { return timestamp (time);             }
sub endtimestamp    { return timestamp (time + (15 * 60)); }
sub futuretimestamp { return timestamp (time + shift);     }

my $fts = futuretimestamp (162 * 60 * 60); # Stamp 162 hours ahead
[download]

This way, there is only one location that defines the required format and several easy ways to use that.


Enjoy, Have FUN! H.Merijn

Using the perl version --> v5.8.8 built. Getting the following error using the above snippet,

Use of uninitialized value in addition (+)
[download]

Which version of Perl are you running? localtime returns a string when called in scalar context in the versions I use (<= 5.14). Perhaps you are using Time::Piece but have neglected to mention this?

Regardless, if you are going to do date/time arithmetic I would heartily recommend using any one of the available modules to do that for you rather than re-invent the wheel (otherwise you will have to start worrying about DST and leap years, etc.). Try one of Date::Manip, DateTime, Time::Piece, etc.