Question 1

How to integrate TrueTime in an Android app?

Accepted Answer

Add the JitPack dependency in your build.gradle, initialize TrueTimeImpl in your Application class, and call sync() to start synchronization. Then use now() to retrieve accurate time, as shown in the README's usage examples.

Question 2

TrueTime vs System.currentTimeMillis() – which is better?

Accepted Answer

TrueTime provides NTP-synchronized time unaffected by device clock changes, ideal for accurate timestamps in apps like financial tools. System.currentTimeMillis() relies on the device clock, which can be manually altered, so it's better for relative time measurements where absolute accuracy isn't critical.

Question 3

Does TrueTime work without internet?

Accepted Answer

TrueTime requires an initial internet connection to sync with NTP servers. It can estimate time offline, but accuracy degrades over time without re-syncing, making it unsuitable for fully offline applications.

Question 4

How accurate is TrueTime in practice?

Accepted Answer

TrueTime synchronizes with NTP servers, typically achieving millisecond-level accuracy, but this depends on network conditions and server reliability. It's more reliable than device clock time for critical timestamps.

Question 5

Can I use custom NTP servers like time.google.com?

Accepted Answer

Yes, TrueTime supports configurable NTP host pools, so you can specify custom servers such as time.google.com or private NTP sources in the TrueTimeParameters for synchronization.

Question 6

What happens if the NTP sync fails in TrueTime?

Accepted Answer

The library doesn't include robust error handling or fallback mechanisms out of the box; developers need to implement retry logic or handle failures manually to ensure time accuracy, as noted in the incomplete features.

True Time

What is True Time?

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