nanotime

What it is and what it does

Nanotime is a Python implementation of a nanosecond-precision time type that represents time as a single 64-bit integer counting nanoseconds since the UNIX epoch. Unlike time types that separate seconds and fractional components, nanotime trades human readability for speed and simplicity—making it suitable for scenarios where you need to compare, add, or subtract many timestamps quickly using integer arithmetic rather than complex time manipulation.

The package was designed for use cases like entry bookkeeping and packet timestamping where nanosecond precision matters but you want fast integer operations. It has no runtime dependencies and is available under the MIT License, but has been abandoned since 2011 with no active maintenance or updates.

Use it for:

• Timestamping network packets or log entries where nanosecond precision and fast integer comparison are needed
• Timing-sensitive applications requiring sub-second resolution in a compact 64-bit format
• Benchmarking and performance measurement where you need to store and compare many precise timestamps efficiently
• Portable serialization of timestamps across systems using a single 64-bit integer

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Nanotime provides a 64-bit UNIX timestamp type with nanosecond precision, storing time as a single integer count of nanoseconds since the epoch rather than separate seconds and fractional components.

No. The package is abandoned (last release 2011-09-22, no commits since 2019-07-25) with unverified Python compatibility, high install friction, and no active maintenance. Unless you have a specific legacy integration requirement, consider alternatives that are actively maintained.

Install

nanotime on PyPI

pip install nanotime

uv add nanotime

poetry add nanotime

Installing nanotime

Before you install

High install friction: the package has been abandoned since 2011 with no updates in over 5440 days, and the source distribution suggests potential build or compatibility issues. Not actively maintained.

License in practice

MIT License permits commercial and private use with minimal restrictions, though the abandoned status means no ongoing legal or security review.

Quickstart

pip install nanotime
import nanotime
t = nanotime.nanotime()
print(t)  # nanoseconds since UNIX epoch

Package is abandoned with no Python version specification; compatibility with modern Python versions is unverified.

Verify before relying

• Whether this package works with current Python versions
• Whether the C extension builds successfully on modern systems
• Current test coverage and whether the implementation handles edge cases correctly
• Whether time-ns() or other standard library alternatives are preferable for modern use

Package facts

Evidence: nanotime-0.5.2.tar.gz

Keywords: nanotime, nanosecond, time precision, 64bit time

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