Question 1

How accurate is TrueTime compared to the system clock?

Accepted Answer

TrueTime provides millisecond-level accuracy by fetching from NTP servers, while system time can be minutes off due to manual changes. However, network delays can introduce small errors, so it's best for scenarios where consistency matters more than nanosecond precision.

Question 2

Can TrueTime work without an internet connection?

Accepted Answer

It requires an initial network connection to fetch the reference time from NTP servers. Once fetched, it uses device uptime to maintain accuracy offline, but if never connected, it cannot provide corrected timestamps.

Question 3

How to handle errors when TrueTime fails to fetch time?

Accepted Answer

Use the fetchIfNeeded method with success and failure callbacks, as shown in the README. The library handles retries, but developers should implement fallback logic, such as using cached time or alerting users.

Question 4

TrueTime or Date() – which is better for event logging in iOS apps?

Accepted Answer

TrueTime is superior for logging if accurate, device-independent timestamps are critical, as Date() relies on the local clock which users can alter. TrueTime ensures logs are consistent across sessions and devices.

Question 5

What NTP servers does TrueTime use by default?

Accepted Answer

The README examples use 'time.apple.com', but servers are configurable via the start method. By default, it may use a pool, but you should specify servers based on reliability needs or geographic location.

Question 6

How to integrate TrueTime with a SwiftUI application?

Accepted Answer

Initialize the TrueTimeClient in your app's entry point, such as the AppDelegate or SceneDelegate, and use notifications or completion handlers to update SwiftUI views when time is fetched, similar to the notification example in the README.

Question 7

Is TrueTime suitable for background tasks in iOS?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but network requests in background modes might be restricted. Ensure proper background capabilities are enabled, and handle fetch errors gracefully, as the library's automatic reachability may not cover all edge cases.

TrueTime

What is TrueTime?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions