in reply to How do I interpret mtime with stat()?

If you don't need the other stuff that comes from stat(), you may want to consider using the -M file test operator, which yields the age (since 'last modified') for the file, in (fractional) days.
  • Comment on Re: How do I interpret mtime with stat()?

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Re: Answer: How do I interpret mtime with stat()?
by Beatnik (Parson) on Dec 21, 2001 at 04:45 UTC
    Actually, it's the last modified for a file, from the moment the script started. If your script has been running for 48 hours (it could happen), then -M is totally off course. stat is in this case a much safer approach.

    Greetz
    Beatnik
    ... Quidquid perl dictum sit, altum viditur.
[reply]
      Well, actually the filetest operators compute their deltas against the value of $^T, which is initialized during startup. However, you may reset it if you think it's value might be getting stale: 
      $^T = time();
$age = -M $file;

      [download]

      -Blake

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