Python script that calculates the time difference between the local computer clock and an NTP server.

check_clock_drift.py

import time

import ntplib


def get_ntp_time_difference(ntp_server: str = "pool.ntp.org") -> float:
    """Calculates the time difference between the local computer clock and an NTP server."""
    try:
        response = ntplib.NTPClient().request(ntp_server, version=3)
        return response.tx_time - time.time()
    except ntplib.NTPException as e:
        raise RuntimeError(f"Error: Could not connect to NTP server ({ntp_server})") from e
    except Exception as e:
        raise RuntimeError("An unexpected error occurred") from e


if __name__ == "__main__":
    time_diff = get_ntp_time_difference("0.de.pool.ntp.org")
    print(f"Time difference (NTP - local): {time_diff:.6f} seconds")