<p>Simple timelocking scripts have been around since before smart contracts were launched, though they do rely on slot length as their notion of time. You can read more about them at <a href="https://github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-node/blob/master/doc/reference/simple-scripts.md" rel="nofollow noreferrer">IOHK's simple scripts repo</a>.</p>
<p>While slot length <em>can</em> indeed be changed, that doesn't mean that it <em>will</em> be changed without a significant heads up. Currently, slotLength is a <a href="https://github.com/cardano-foundation/CIPs/tree/master/CIP-0009#non-updatable-parameters" rel="nofollow noreferrer">non-updateable protocol parameter</a>, meaning it would require at least an HFC to change, which we would be aware of ahead of time.</p>
<p>For this reason I would argue the slotLength parameter is <em>currently</em>, by far, a more reliable source of time than any oracle. The former has roughly the same security/reliability guarantees as something like Max-ADA-supply, whereas the latter is only as trustworthy as the underlying data aggregator.</p>
<p>If I were time-locking UTXO's for years ahead, I would use the slot-based time locking scripts mentioned above, in combination with an emergency fallover key that is non-timelocked and buried/kept somewhere safe, <em>just in case</em> of whatever.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-03-08T12:55:46.007Z
What does it mean ` HFC to change` ?
KugisMugis
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-02-16T17:29:21.297Z
2022-02-16T17:29:21.297Z
zhekson
<p>Are there oracles for knowing in real time the duration of the Cardano time slot in real time ? One learns in the Plutus Pioneer Program that the duration of this time slot can change, is there a way to give Ada to my children in 3 years (and not 6 or 1.5 years ^^) ?</p>

<plutus-pioneer-program><oracles><posixtime>
Is there a way for a contract to look at the duration of the timeslot?
# Is there a way for a contract to look at the duration of the timeslot?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-02-16)

Are there oracles for knowing in real time the duration of the Cardano time slot in real time ? One learns in the Plutus Pioneer Program that the duration of this time slot can change, is there a way to give Ada to my children in 3 years (and not 6 or 1.5 years ^^) ?

**Tags:** plutus-pioneer-program, oracles, posixtime

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-02-16. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Simple timelocking scripts have been around since before smart contracts were launched, though they do rely on slot length as their notion of time. You can read more about them at [IOHK's simple scripts repo](https://github.com/input-output-hk/cardano-node/blob/master/doc/reference/simple-scripts.md).

While slot length *can* indeed be changed, that doesn't mean that it *will* be changed without a significant heads up. Currently, slotLength is a [non-updateable protocol parameter](https://github.com/cardano-foundation/CIPs/tree/master/CIP-0009#non-updatable-parameters), meaning it would require at least an HFC to change, which we would be aware of ahead of time.

For this reason I would argue the slotLength parameter is *currently*, by far, a more reliable source of time than any oracle. The former has roughly the same security/reliability guarantees as something like Max-ADA-supply, whereas the latter is only as trustworthy as the underlying data aggregator.

If I were time-locking UTXO's for years ahead, I would use the slot-based time locking scripts mentioned above, in combination with an emergency fallover key that is non-timelocked and buried/kept somewhere safe, *just in case* of whatever.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: What does it mean ` HFC to change` ?  

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