TextClock C++

High Performance Compiled Date & Time Display

TextClock C++ is a compiled version of the popular TextClock script. Written in C++, it provides the same functionality as the Perl version but executes significantly faster with minimal server overhead. Perfect for high-traffic websites that need efficient date/time display.

Free Download
Version 1.0
C++ CGI
Download Documentation Perl Version

Overview

The C++ version of TextClock offers significant performance improvements over the Perl version. As a compiled binary, it runs directly on your server without the overhead of starting a Perl interpreter for each request.

Performance Comparison
Metric Perl Version C++ Version
Execution Time ~50-100ms ~1-5ms
Memory Usage 2-5 MB ~100 KB
CPU Overhead Moderate Minimal
Modification Ease Easy (edit script) Moderate (recompile)
Package Contents
File Description
textclock.cpp C++ source code
Makefile Compilation instructions
README Compilation and installation guide
When to Use C++
  • High-traffic websites (1000+ hits/day)
  • Shared hosting with limited resources
  • When performance is critical
  • Server load reduction needed
  • Multiple SSI includes per page
When to Use Perl
  • Low to moderate traffic
  • Frequent customization needed
  • No compiler available
  • Quick deployment required
  • Educational purposes

Features

Lightning Fast

Executes 10-20x faster than Perl version. No interpreter startup overhead.

Low CPU Usage

Minimal CPU consumption per request. Compiled binary runs natively.

Small Memory Footprint

Uses less than 200KB of memory compared to 2-5MB for Perl.

Same Format Options

Supports all the same date/time format codes as the Perl version.

SSI Compatible

Drop-in replacement for Perl version. Same SSI syntax.

Type Safety

C++ type safety reduces runtime errors and crashes.

Compilation & Installation

  1. Upload Source Files
    Upload textclock.cpp and Makefile to your server.
  2. Compile the Program
    Run: g++ -o textclock textclock.cpp or simply make
  3. Move to CGI-BIN
    Move the compiled binary to your cgi-bin directory.
  4. Set Permissions
    Set executable permissions: chmod 755 textclock
  5. Test the Program
    Test by accessing directly: http://yoursite.com/cgi-bin/textclock
  6. Use in SSI
    Add to your .shtml pages: <!--#exec cgi="/cgi-bin/textclock"-->
Compilation Tip

On some systems you may need to link with the math library: g++ -o textclock textclock.cpp -lm

C++ Source Code Example

#include <iostream>
#include <ctime>
#include <cstring>
#include <cstdlib>

using namespace std;

int main(int argc, char* argv[]) {
    // Output HTTP header
    cout << "Content-type: text/html\n\n";

    // Get query string for format
    char* query = getenv("QUERY_STRING");
    char format[256] = "%A, %B %d, %Y - %I:%M:%S %p %Z";

    if (query != NULL) {
        // Parse format parameter from query string
        char* format_param = strstr(query, "format=");
        if (format_param != NULL) {
            format_param += 7; // Skip "format="

            // URL decode and copy format string
            int i = 0;
            while (*format_param && *format_param != '&' && i < 255) {
                if (*format_param == '+') {
                    format[i++] = ' ';
                } else if (*format_param == '%' &&
                          isxdigit(format_param[1]) &&
                          isxdigit(format_param[2])) {
                    char hex[3] = {format_param[1], format_param[2], 0};
                    format[i++] = (char)strtol(hex, NULL, 16);
                    format_param += 2;
                } else {
                    format[i++] = *format_param;
                }
                format_param++;
            }
            format[i] = '\0';
        }
    }

    // Get current time
    time_t now = time(0);
    struct tm* timeinfo = localtime(&now);

    // Format and output time string
    char buffer[512];
    strftime(buffer, sizeof(buffer), format, timeinfo);
    cout << buffer;

    return 0;
}
Makefile Example
CC = g++
CFLAGS = -O2 -Wall
TARGET = textclock

all: $(TARGET)

$(TARGET): textclock.cpp
	$(CC) $(CFLAGS) -o $(TARGET) textclock.cpp

clean:
	rm -f $(TARGET)

install: $(TARGET)
	cp $(TARGET) /usr/local/apache/cgi-bin/
	chmod 755 /usr/local/apache/cgi-bin/$(TARGET)

.PHONY: all clean install

Download

Compressed Archives
  • textclock-cpp.tar.gz 4.2 KB
  • textclock-cpp.zip 4.8 KB
Individual Files
  • textclock.cpp

    C++ source code for compilation

  • Makefile

    Compilation automation

  • README

    Compilation and installation guide

Go to Downloads Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

The C++ version is compiled into native machine code that runs directly on your server's processor. The Perl version requires starting the Perl interpreter for each request, parsing the script, and interpreting it line by line. This interpreter overhead can add 50-100ms per request, which adds up on busy sites.

Yes, compiled binaries are platform-specific. If you move from Linux to FreeBSD, or from 32-bit to 64-bit, you'll need to recompile. Keep the source code (.cpp file) and Makefile so you can recompile on any new server.

Many shared hosting providers don't provide shell access or compilers. In this case, use the Perl version instead. If performance is critical, consider VPS or dedicated hosting where you have full control.

Yes, you can install both versions side by side with different names (textclock.pl and textclock). This allows you to compare performance and switch between them. They're functionally identical in terms of output.

Typical improvements range from 10-20x faster execution. For a page with 5 SSI includes, switching from Perl to C++ could save 200-400ms of page load time. On a server handling 1000 requests per hour, this can significantly reduce CPU load and improve response times for all users.