timeago
A very simple python library, used to format datetime with `*** time ago` statement. eg: "3 hours ago".
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need simple relative time formatting and can tolerate an unmaintained package. The library is stable, has no dependencies, and works for basic use cases. However, do not use it if you require active maintenance, compatibility with the latest Python versions, or ongoing locale updates. For new projects, consider an actively maintained alternative.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Low install friction with no runtime dependencies.
- However, the package is abandoned—last commit was 2022-09-14 and no releases since the latest release on 2022-08-18.
- It may work for simple use cases but will not receive maintenance or security updates.
License · maintenance · safety
MIT (permissive) — MIT license is permissive and places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
last release 2022-08-18 (1457 days) · last repo commit 2022-09-14 · 226 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 1,030,880 downloads/mo, #4,470 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import timeago
import datetime
now = datetime.datetime.now()
date = datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(minutes=3)
print(timeago.format(date, now)) # prints: 3 minutes ago- Whether the package works correctly with modern Python versions despite classifiers only listing up to 3.5
- Current state of all listed locale implementations and whether they are fully functional
- Whether any breaking changes in Python's datetime module affect this package since 2022-09-14
What it is and what it does
timeago is a minimal library that converts datetime objects, timedeltas, or datetime strings into relative time expressions (e.g., '3 minutes ago', 'in 2 hours', 'just now'). It accepts a date to format, a reference time, and an optional locale code, then returns a human-readable string. The library supports many locales including ar, bg, ca, da, de, el, en, en_short, es, eu, fa_IR, fi, fr, gl, guj_IN, he, hu, in_BG, in_HI, in_ID, is, it, ja, ko, lt, ml, my, nb_NO, nl, nn_NO, pl, pt_PT, pt_BR, ro, ru, sk, sv_SE, ta, th, tr, uk, vi, zh_CN, and zh_TW.
The package has no external runtime dependencies and installs as a pure Python wheel. However, it is no longer maintained—the last commit was 2022-09-14. While it may continue to work for straightforward use cases, it will not receive updates, bug fixes, or compatibility improvements for newer Python versions.
Use it for
- Display activity timestamps in web applications (e.g., 'posted 2 hours ago')
- Format notification or log timestamps for end-user display in multiple languages
- Convert database timestamps to relative time in API responses
- Show relative times in chat or social media interfaces
- Localize time expressions for international audiences without manual translation
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need simple relative time formatting and can tolerate an unmaintained package.
The library is stable, has no dependencies, and works for basic use cases. However, do not use it if you require active maintenance, compatibility with the latest Python versions, or ongoing locale updates. For new projects, consider an actively maintained alternative.
Install
timeago on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with no runtime dependencies. However, the package is abandoned—last commit was 2022-09-14 and no releases since the latest release on 2022-08-18. It may work for simple use cases but will not receive maintenance or security updates.
License in practice
MIT license is permissive and places no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in proprietary or open-source projects.
Quickstart
import timeago
import datetime
now = datetime.datetime.now()
date = datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(minutes=3)
print(timeago.format(date, now)) # prints: 3 minutes agoVerify before relying
- Whether the package works correctly with modern Python versions despite classifiers only listing up to 3.5
- Current state of all listed locale implementations and whether they are fully functional
- Whether any breaking changes in Python's datetime module affect this package since 2022-09-14
Package facts
| License | MIT permissive |
| Python support | Not specified |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Abandoned 1,457 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 1,030,880 / month, #4,470 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Intended Audience :: DevelopersNatural Language :: Chinese (Simplified)Operating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 2Programming Language :: Python :: 2.5Programming Language :: Python :: 2.6Programming Language :: Python :: 2.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.2Programming Language :: Python :: 3.3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.4Programming Language :: Python :: 3.5Topic :: Utilities |
Evidence: timeago-1.0.16-py3-none-any.whl
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See also ago · snaptime · humanize · moment · delta · timelib · human-readable · pytimeparse2 · pytimeparse · jinja2-time