python: how to handle timestamps (ISO8601)

Question

I have to deal in python with strings representing iso8601 timestamps.

My timestamps string are therefore in the following form:

timestamp = \"2011-0         


        

Answer 1

You'll need to add an external module that provides timezone support; the pytz module provides you with the necessary timezone database.

You'll either need to parse the timezone by hand to construct a pytz timezone, or use a package like zc.iso8601 or iso8601 to do the parsing for you:

from zc.iso8601.parse import datetimetz
datetimetz(timestamp)