diff --git a/core/io/clock.rs b/core/io/clock.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3a38ad955
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/io/clock.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+pub struct Instant {
+    pub secs: i64,
+    pub micros: u32,
+}
+
+pub trait Clock {
+    fn now(&self) -> Instant;
+}