#!/usr/bin/env python3
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
"""A simple Python script to output the current date and time as a JSON object string every 0.5 seconds.

Used instead of the `date` command in order to avoid spawning a new process every 0.5 seconds.
"""

import datetime
import sys
import time


def get_date():
    """Return the current date as a JSON object string."""
    return int(datetime.datetime.now().timestamp())


if __name__ == "__main__":
    while True:
        print(get_date())
        sys.stdout.flush()
        time.sleep(0.5)