Thread

Hi all.

Here’s my solution. I haven’t checked it for character length or time, but its as compact as I can make it.

function times ()
{
    for ($i=0; $i<96; $i++)
        $a[] = date('h:iA', mktime(0, $i*15));
    
    return $a;
}

Awesome solution there m4rw3r - the only downside is that it is timezone dependant so if you could alter to be not so dependant that would be great.

Updated the list at the top as well.

Found a way to strip out a few more characters (I think). I’m not sure if the function name counts as well so I shortened it too (seems like only the function contents should count to me).

function t ()
{
    while ($i < 96) 
        $a[] = date('h:iA', mktime(0, $i++ * 15));    
    return $a;
}

I liked m4rw3r’s solution so much he should get credit for this. 😉

public function t($s = 43200, $f = 129600, $i = 900) //start, finish, increment
{
    while($s < $f)
    {
        $t[] = date('h:iA', $s);
        $s+=$i;
    }

    return $t;
}

EDIT: Choose your own start, finish and increment times in seconds

Found a way to strip out a few more characters (I think). I’m not sure if the function name counts as well so I shortened it too (seems like only the function contents should count to me).

Yup, only function contents count and it excludes variable names as well except for the ‘$’

Here is an update:

function time_list()
{
    for($i = 0; $i < 86401; $i += 900)
        $t[] = gmdate('h:iA');
    return $t;
}

It is 42 chars, except for the header, { + }, spacing and the return $t;

AND, it is not timezone dependent! 😊

fastest and smallest code

function m4rw3r(){ /* do magic */ }

fastest and smallest code

function m4rw3r(){ /* do magic */ }

You do need to tell him what to do, he can’t read your mind! Or can he?

My solution:

function times_array()
{
    $today = strtotime('today');
    for ($a = -1; ++$a <= 96;)
    {
        $time = date('h:iA', $today + $a * 900);
    }
}

But I prefer the James Gifford solution

HAHAHA!!!  😊

Good one, xwero!

@topic
The performance loss of using mktime() and date() (and gmdate()) is quite big, compared to using pure string manipulations.

The mktime() function is totally unnecessary, because it fetches the date and/or time of today if the complete date is not explicitly set.

I think the reason date() is so slow is that it has got a lot of configuration options (the table in PHP Cookbook is about 2.5 pages long, I recall).

I think the reason date() is so slow is that it has got a lot of configuration options (the table in PHP Cookbook is about 2.5 pages long, I recall).

Then would the gmdate function be slow too because it has the same configuration options.

using mktime() and date() (and gmdate()) is

I did…

But to be clear, it also applies to gmdate().

You do need to tell him what to do, he can’t read your mind! Or can he?

Here’s how to tell him what to do:

function m4rw3r($myThoughts) { /* do magic */ }

Love the outcomes of this challenge and will start to brew up a new one in the coming days - if you have any suggestions please feel free to pm me.

Here is an update:

function time_list()
{
    for($i = 0; $i < 86401; $i += 900)
        $t[] = gmdate('h:iA');
    return $t;
}

It is 42 chars, except for the header, { + }, spacing and the return $t;

AND, it is not timezone dependent! 😊

You forgot to pass the $i timestamp to gmdate().

What an great initiative, Lone. Too bad I missed the race (sorry, can’t possibly top these), but I’m looking forward to the next challenge.

OOps, sorry. I wrote it at work, where I don’t have access to a php server.
The char count should be 44 (skipped variable names (only counted $), spaces, newlines, function header, {, } and “return $t” (because all functions need it 😛))

function time_list()
{
    for($i = 0; $i < 86401; $i += 900)
        $t[] = gmdate('h:iA', $i);
    return $t;
}

EDIT: My try at making a faster function failed, because I didn’t followed the specs, so the one above is the fastest I can make.