time_ago_in_words.js

/*
Use this small script to convert dates to a relative time in words.
uses prototype.. http://www.prototypejs.org/
inspired by rails distance_of_time_in_words helper http://apidock.com/rails/ActionView/Helpers/DateHelper/distance_of_time_in_words

http://blog.peelmeagrape.net/2008/8/30/time-ago-in-words-javascript-part-2
Fell free to use as you wish...
*/
TimeInWordsHelper = {
  distanceInWords: function(fromTime, toTime, includeSeconds) {
    var fromSeconds = fromTime.getTime();
    var toSeconds = toTime.getTime();
    var distanceInSeconds = Math.round(Math.abs(fromSeconds - toSeconds) / 1000)
    var distanceInMinutes = Math.round(distanceInSeconds / 60)
    if (distanceInMinutes <= 1) {
      if (!includeSeconds)
        return (distanceInMinutes == 0) ? 'less than a minute' : '1 minute'
      if (distanceInSeconds < 5)
        return 'less than 5 seconds'
      if (distanceInSeconds < 10)
        return 'less than 10 seconds'
      if (distanceInSeconds < 20)
        return 'less than 20 seconds'
      if (distanceInSeconds < 40)
        return 'half a minute'
      if (distanceInSeconds < 60)
        return 'less than a minute'
      return '1 minute'
    }
    if (distanceInMinutes < 45)
      return distanceInMinutes + ' minutes'
    if (distanceInMinutes < 90)
      return "about 1 hour"
    if (distanceInMinutes < 1440)
      return "about " + (Math.round(distanceInMinutes / 60)) + ' hours'
    if (distanceInMinutes < 2880)
      return "1 day"
    if (distanceInMinutes < 43200)
      return (Math.round(distanceInMinutes / 1440)) + ' days'
    if (distanceInMinutes < 86400)
      return "about 1 month"
    if (distanceInMinutes < 525600)
      return (Math.round(distanceInMinutes / 43200)) + ' months'
    if (distanceInMinutes < 1051200)
      return "about 1 year"
    return "over " + (Math.round(distanceInMinutes / 525600)) + ' years'
  },
  convertBySelector: function(selector) {
    var now = new Date()
    $$(selector).each(function(e) {
      var oldInner = e.innerHTML
      e.innerHTML = TimeInWordsHelper.distanceInWords(now, new Date(e.title), false) + ' ago'
      e.title = oldInner
    });
  }
};