How do I install the Datetime skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add cadrianmae/datetime in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Datetime safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. Capability flags: docs only. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Datetime?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Datetime free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Datetime?

cadrianmae (@cadrianmae) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Datetime by cadrianmae — Agent Skill

Name: Datetime
Rating: 4.2 (5 reviews)
Author: cadrianmae

Datetime

Use the `date` command via Bash tool whenever you or the user mention time, dates, or temporal concepts. Verify current date/time before ANY temporal response, as environment context may be outdated. Parse expressions like "tomorrow", "next week", "3 days", "in 2 weeks", "next Monday at 3pm". Proactively invoke for deadlines, schedules, time-sensitive tasks, week numbers, or any date/time reference.

cadrianmae Updated Sep 10, 2026

File contents

DateTime Natural Language Parser

Parse natural language date and time expressions using GNU date command (native Linux utility).

IMPORTANT: For Claude Code

DO NOT invoke slash commands (/datetime:parse, /datetime:now, /datetime:calc) - those are for users only.

Instead, use the date command directly via the Bash tool:

# Get current date/time
date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'

# Parse natural language
date -d "tomorrow" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
date -d "next monday at 9am" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
date -d "3 days" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'

This skill provides the command patterns and when to use them. The slash commands are for users to invoke manually.

Quick Example

date -d "next Friday" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
# 2026-02-06 00:00:00 (Friday)

When to Use This Skill

Automatically invoke when:

User mentions temporal expressions: "tomorrow", "next week", "in 3 days"
Need to verify current date/time
User references deadlines or time-sensitive tasks
context shows incorrect dates

How to Use

Use the Bash tool with date -d command:

Get current date/time:

date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'

Parse natural language:

date -d "tomorrow" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
date -d "next wednesday" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
date -d "3 days" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
date -d "next monday 9am" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'

Important: The date command doesn't understand "in" keyword. When user says "in 3 days", use "3 days" instead.

Output Format

Returns single line: YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS (DayName)

Example: 2024-10-29 14:23:45 (Tuesday)

Supported Expressions

Relative: "today", "tomorrow", "yesterday"
Named days: "next monday", "this wednesday", "last friday"
Offsets: "3 days", "2 weeks", "5 months ago"
Complex: "tomorrow 3pm", "next monday at 9am"
Past: "3 days ago", "last week"

Error Handling

If date -d fails with an invalid expression:

Recognize the failure: If the command returns an error, inform the user the expression couldn't be parsed
Try alternative approaches: Check references/reference.md for:
- Date arithmetic examples (if user wants relative calculations)
- Complex expression syntax (if user wants compound dates)
- Unix timestamp calculations (if user wants day differences)
Fallback to current date: If no alternative works:
```
date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'
```

Example error handling:

# Try parsing
date -d "user expression" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)' 2>&1
# If error message appears, tell user and suggest checking references/reference.md for advanced patterns

Advanced Usage

For relative calculations, week numbers, and complex date arithmetic, see references/reference.md.

---name: datetimedescription: Use the `date` command via Bash tool whenever you or the user mention time, dates, or temporal concepts. Verify current date/time before ANY temporal response, as environment context may be outdated. Parse expressions like "tomorrow", "next week", "3 days", "in 2 weeks", "next Monday at 3pm". Proactively invoke for deadlines, schedules, time-sensitive tasks, week numbers, or any date/time reference.---# DateTime Natural Language ParserParse natural language date and time expressions using GNU `date` command (native Linux utility).## IMPORTANT: For Claude Code**DO NOT invoke slash commands** (`/datetime:parse`, `/datetime:now`, `/datetime:calc`) - those are for users only.**Instead, use the `date` command directly via the Bash tool:**```bash# Get current date/timedate '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'# Parse natural languagedate -d "tomorrow" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'date -d "next monday at 9am" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'date -d "3 days" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'```This skill provides the command patterns and when to use them. The slash commands are for users to invoke manually.## Quick Example```bashdate -d "next Friday" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'# 2026-02-06 00:00:00 (Friday)```## When to Use This SkillAutomatically invoke when:- User mentions temporal expressions: "tomorrow", "next week", "in 3 days"- Need to verify current date/time- User references deadlines or time-sensitive tasks- <env> context shows incorrect dates## How to UseUse the Bash tool with `date -d` command:**Get current date/time:**```bashdate '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'```**Parse natural language:**```bashdate -d "tomorrow" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'date -d "next wednesday" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'date -d "3 days" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'date -d "next monday 9am" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)'```**Important**: The `date` command doesn't understand "in" keyword. When user says "in 3 days", use `"3 days"` instead.## Output FormatReturns single line: `YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS (DayName)`Example: `2024-10-29 14:23:45 (Tuesday)`## Supported Expressions- Relative: "today", "tomorrow", "yesterday"- Named days: "next monday", "this wednesday", "last friday"- Offsets: "3 days", "2 weeks", "5 months ago"- Complex: "tomorrow 3pm", "next monday at 9am"- Past: "3 days ago", "last week"## Error HandlingIf `date -d` fails with an invalid expression:1. **Recognize the failure**: If the command returns an error, inform the user the expression couldn't be parsed2. **Try alternative approaches**: Check `references/reference.md` for: - Date arithmetic examples (if user wants relative calculations) - Complex expression syntax (if user wants compound dates) - Unix timestamp calculations (if user wants day differences)3. **Fallback to current date**: If no alternative works: ```bash date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)' ```**Example error handling:**```bash# Try parsingdate -d "user expression" '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S (%A)' 2>&1# If error message appears, tell user and suggest checking references/reference.md for advanced patterns```## Advanced UsageFor relative calculations, week numbers, and complex date arithmetic, see `references/reference.md`.

Frequently asked questions