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Python Dates and Times in Python (2014) Let's Build a Timed Quiz App Timestamp Ordering

Posted by Travers Geoffray
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Travers Geoffray
Python Development Techdegree Graduate 26,967 Points

How do I return the oldest POSIX timestamp? The method I'm running is returning a tuple not an integer...

I know I've run into this problem before with multiple arguments before, but I'm stuck on how to solve it.

timestamp.py 
# If you need help, look up datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp()
# Also, remember that you *will not* know how many timestamps
# are coming in.

import datetime

def timestamp_oldest(*POSIX):
    timestamps = []
    for timestamp in POSIX:
        timestamps.append(POSIX)
    timestamps.sort()
    oldest = timestamps[0]
    return datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(oldest)

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,441 Points

Hey Travers Geoffray, there is an error in the loop append.

Need to append timestamp instead of POSIX

There is a simpler way to sort the arguments. The built-in function sorted returns a list and works on iterable objects. 

timestamps = sorted(POSIX)

Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!

Travers Geoffray
.a{fill-rule:evenodd;}techdegree seal-36
Travers Geoffray
Python Development Techdegree Graduate 26,967 Points

That worked, thank you! And thanks for showing me that sorted function.