datetime - In Python, how to display current time in readable format

Question

How can I display the current time as:

12:18PM EST on Oct 18, 2010

in Python. Thanks.

Answer 1

First the quick and dirty way, and second the precise way (recognizing daylight's savings or not).

import time
time.ctime() # 'Mon Oct 18 13:35:29 2010'
time.strftime('%l:%M%p %Z on %b %d, %Y') # ' 1:36PM EDT on Oct 18, 2010'
time.strftime('%l:%M%p %z on %b %d, %Y') # ' 1:36PM EST on Oct 18, 2010'