Developer Tools
Telescope: Timestamps
Read Unix timestamps the way humans read time
Telescope is the fastest way to convert between Unix timestamps and human-readable dates on macOS. It lives in your menu bar — copy a timestamp from a log line, JSON payload, or database row, and Telescope's popover instantly surfaces the converted local date and ISO8601 string. Click to copy. Done.
Multi-precision parsing detects seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds automatically, and conversion works both directions: paste a timestamp to get a date, or pick a date to get its Unix value. Every result shows both local and ISO8601 formats in monospaced, copy-ready rows. Built for backend developers reading server logs, data engineers sanity-checking date columns, and sysadmins parsing systemd, Kubernetes, and monitoring output.
Originally released in 2016 and now fully rebuilt in Swift and SwiftUI for Apple Silicon and modern macOS. Everything runs locally — sandboxed, no network, no telemetry, no accounts. Telescope is a single one-time purchase: no subscriptions, no in-app upsells. Anyone who bought the original gets this update free.
Features
Clipboard-Aware Conversion
Copy any Unix timestamp and Telescope's popover appears automatically with the converted date — from copy to converted in half a second.
Multi-Precision Parsing
Seconds, milliseconds, microseconds, and nanoseconds are all detected automatically, so you can paste anything modern systems throw at you.
Both Directions
Convert a timestamp to a date, or pick a date and get its Unix timestamp — with one-click copy on every result.
Local and ISO8601
Every conversion shows both formats, monospaced and copy-ready, with your choice of 24-hour or 12-hour time.
Zero Network, Fully Private
Everything runs locally. Sandboxed, no telemetry, no servers, no accounts — nothing ever leaves your machine.
Native and Lightweight
Apple Silicon native, launches at login, and stays out of the way in your menu bar with idle CPU near zero.