Utilizing the `std/time` Package

The `std/time` package in CoginitiScript introduces a set of date and time functions, enhancing the ability to handle and manipulate time data within SQL code. This package is instrumental for applications requiring time-related data processing, such as time series analysis, scheduling, or historical data tracking.

Getting Started with `std/time`

To use the `std/time` package, first import it into your CoginitiScript:

#+import "std/time"

This makes the time functions available in your script.

Key Functions and Formats

- time.NowUTC(): Retrieves the current time in UTC format.
- time.Now(tz): Fetches the current time in a specified time zone (`tz`).
- time.Format(time, format): Formats a time value into a specified string format.

Supported Time Formats

`std/time` supports a variety of formats, enabling versatile representation of date and time:

• time.IsoBasicDate Basic ISO date '20111203'
• time.IsoLocalDate ISO Local Date '2011-12-03'
• time.IsoOffsetDate ISO Date with offset '2011-12-03+01:00'
• time.IsoDate ISO Date with or without offset '2011-12-03+01:00'; '2011-12-03'
• time.IsoLocalTime Time without offset '10:15:30'
• time.IsoOffsetTime Time with offset '10:15:30+01:00'
• time.IsoTime Time with or without offset '10:15:30+01:00'; '10:15:30'
• time.IsoLocalDateTime ISO Local Date and Time '2011-12-03T10:15:30' time.IsoOffsetDateTime Date Time with Offset '2011-12-03T10:15:30+01:00'
• time.IsoZonedDateTime Zoned Date Time '2011-12-03T10:15:30+01:00[Europe/Paris]'
• time.IsoDateTime Date and time with ZoneId '2011-12-03T10:15:30+01:00[Europe/Paris]'
• time.IsoOrdinalDate Year and day of year '2012-337'
• time.IsoWeekDate Year and Week '2012-W48-6'

Example Use Case: Dynamic Table Naming

The `std/time` package can be used to dynamically name tables based on the current date, which is particularly useful for versioning data. Here's an example:

#+import "std/time"

#+src sql Foo()
#+meta {
:publication {
:type "table",
:name "published_table_" + time.Format(time.Now(), time.IsoBasicDate)
 }
}
#+begin
SELECT 1 AS id, 'John' AS first_name, 'Doe' AS last_name
#+end

In this example, a new table named `published_table_` followed by the current date in ISO Basic Date format is created. This approach is beneficial for creating time-based versions of tables for tracking changes over time.