Add timestamps to compiled sass/scss - css

Question

Is it possible to automatically add a timestamp on the compiled CSS file using SASS?
e.g.
/* CSS Compiled on: {date+time} */
...compiled css goes here...
I've checked the SASS and Compass docs but no mention of such a feature.

Answer 1

I don't know of any built-in SASS or Compass feature for this, but it's not too hard to add a custom Ruby function to do it. (See the section entitled "Adding Custom Functions" in the SASS reference here.)
Your file with the Ruby function would look like this (let's call it "timestamp.rb"):
module Sass::Script::Functions
def timestamp()
return Sass::Script::String.new(Time.now.to_s)
end
end
And you'd reference the new timestamp function in your SASS file like this:
/*!
* CSS Compiled on: #{timestamp()}
*/
You just need to make sure your "timestamp.rb" file is loaded when you compile the SASS, either by requiring it from a Compass config file, or by using the --require parameter with the SASS command line. When all is said and done, you should get output like the following:
/*
* CSS Compiled on: 2012-10-23 08:53:03 -0400
*/

Answer 2

If you are using the command line version of SCSS you can do the following:
Install sass-timestamp
gem install sass-timestamp
Use it within your code like (see documentation for more information)
/* Compiled on #{timestamp()} */
Require it on the command line
scss -r sass-timestamp ...
Output will be
/* Compiled on 2015-02-02 13:01:40 +0800 */
Note: Use #{unix_timestamp()} for a unix timestamp

Answer 3

I don't know if everyone needs it (cause the question is a long time answered ago),
but a simple solution is to write the timestamp/date
to a single sass/scss file as SASS variable,
import them to the location where the timestamp should be
and then let a comment in sass write them out.
Nothing to install, compile or anything else - just using scripts and sass:
1.) Write the timestamp to a separate sass file: (Here a dos-script, but you can also use any other script/language to generate the simple file):
echo $BuildTimeStamp : "%date% %time%"> _timestamp.scss
2.) Import the generated file with the timestamp:
#import '_timestamp.scss';
3.) Write the header out as comment:
/*! Automatic build at: #{$BuildTimeStamp} */
Write the timestamp before you call the original sass command
and it will also work without the need to install, build or do anything else.