diff --git a/src/core/time.c b/src/core/time.c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/core/time.c
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+/*
+ * SysDB - src/core/time.c
+ * Copyright (C) 2012 Sebastian 'tokkee' Harl <sh@tokkee.org>
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
+ * are met:
+ * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ * documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
+ * TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ * PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS OR
+ * CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL,
+ * EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO,
+ * PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS;
+ * OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY,
+ * WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR
+ * OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF
+ * ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+#include "core/time.h"
+
+#include <time.h>
+
+#include <string.h>
+
+/*
+ * public API
+ */
+
+sdb_time_t
+sdb_gettime(void)
+{
+ struct timespec ts_now = { 0, 0 };
+
+ if (clock_gettime(CLOCK_REALTIME, &ts_now))
+ return 0;
+ return TIMESPEC_TO_SDB_TIME(ts_now);
+} /* sdb_gettime */
+
+int
+sdb_sleep(sdb_time_t reg, sdb_time_t *rem)
+{
+ struct timespec ts_reg, ts_rem = { 0, 0 };
+ int status;
+
+ ts_reg.tv_sec = (time_t)SDB_TIME_TO_SECS(reg);
+ ts_reg.tv_nsec = (long int)(reg % (sdb_time_t)1000000000);
+
+ status = nanosleep(&ts_reg, &ts_rem);
+ if (rem)
+ *rem = TIMESPEC_TO_SDB_TIME(ts_rem);
+ return status;
+} /* sdb_sleep */
+
+size_t
+sdb_strftime(char *s, size_t len, const char *format, sdb_time_t t)
+{
+ time_t tstamp;
+ struct tm tm;
+
+ memset(&tm, 0, sizeof(tm));
+
+ tstamp = (time_t)SDB_TIME_TO_SECS(t);
+ if (! localtime_r (&tstamp, &tm))
+ return 0;
+
+ return strftime(s, len, format, &tm);
+} /* sdb_strftime */
+
+/* vim: set tw=78 sw=4 ts=4 noexpandtab : */
+