This is a little utility I use to compress the time for small project versions. I usually just use the first 3 characters for an archive name like 'pimp-1LN.tgz' for my Perl MP3 player project or something (which is almost done). `pt` takes it's own (un-parametered) output format as a parameter to be decoded.

Obviously `pt` won't be unique beyond 5 years but it will be compact which is more important for now && archiving big blocks every 5 years isn't so bad if it means daily versioning convenience (AFAIC). I thought maybe someone might like to use `pt` since I do (I've been doing it in my head for months for months {!days though (hehe)}). Please werd your "Y2K"-lecture carefully if you must reprimand me for my blatant ignorance of future-proofness. TTFN =). 
#!/usr/bin/perl -w
# pt (PipTime) is a simple tool created to en/decode the following fie
+lds:
#   Year*12+Month, Day, Hour, Minute, Second into/from a terse 5-char 
+string.
# The pt method will be unique until Feb. 2006.  Created 1L7Mu AllNigh
+ter =).
# There's no !ERROR! checking so I might add some should it ever seem 
+useful.
# I like to use brief encoded dates to version things so this lets me 
+quickly
#  choose a duration granularity as my next unique version descriptor.
+  TTFN.
# All source code should be free!  Code I have authority over is && sh
+all be!
#                                             -Pip@BinQ.org
use strict;
my %mapz = (); # This guy will hold @valz as keys && indices as values
+ for lookups
my @valz = ( 0..9, 'A'..'Z', 'a'..'z' ); # 0-61 dayz->V(31) minz->x(60
+)
my @dayo = ( "Sun", "Mon", "Tue", "Wed", "Thu", "Fri", "Sha" );
my @mnth = ( "Jan", "Feb", "Mar", "Apr", "May", "Jun",
             "Jul", "Aug", "Sep", "Oct", "Nov", "Dec" );
my $tout = shift; my @time = localtime(); my $year = 1;
if (defined($tout)) {
  for(my $i=0; $i<@valz; $i++) { $mapz{$valz[$i]} = $i; }
  @time = split //, $tout; splice(@time,5,127); # chop extras off!
  for(my $i=0; $i<5; $i++) { unless(defined($time[$i])) { $time[$i] = 
+0; } }
  while ($mapz{$time[0]} > 12) { $year++; $time[0] = $valz[$mapz{$time
+[0]}-12]; }
  unshift(@time, $year+2000);
  print "$mnth[$mapz{$time[1]}-1] $mapz{$time[2]}, $time[0] ";
  if ($mapz{$time[3]} < 10) { print "0"; } print "$mapz{$time[3]}:";
  if ($mapz{$time[4]} < 10) { print "0"; } print "$mapz{$time[4]}:";
  if ($mapz{$time[5]} < 10) { print "0"; } print "$mapz{$time[5]}";
} else {
  $time[5] -= 101; $time[4] = $valz[(++$time[4]+(12*$time[5]))];
  $time[3] = $valz[$time[3]]; $time[2] = $valz[$time[2]];
  $time[1] = $valz[$time[1]]; $time[0] = $valz[$time[0]];
  splice(@time,5,4); @time = reverse(@time); print @time;
} # print "\n"; # hmmm...

[download]

-PipTigger
p.s. JAPM.

In reply to PipTime by PipTigger

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