How to get datetime differance in laravel 4 -

i using laravel 4. facing problem finding difference between 2 date: 1 coming database table , 1 current datetime. date difference expecting 1 hour or 1 day. i've tried few solution can't fix yet. , don't know better way solve it. if guys have solution, please provide me example. please tell me if need library. here code:

$lecture_id = input::get('lecture_id');         $delegate_id = input::get('delegate_id');          // $newdate = new datetime();          $lecture = lecture::find($lecture_id);          // $lec_date = date::forge($lecture->start_time);         // $lec_date = new datetime($lecture->start_time);          $lec_date = $lecture->start_time->diffforhumans(carbon::now());           if ( $lec_date > 1) {             lecturedelegate::create(array(                 'lecture_id' => input::get('lecture_id'),                 'delegate_id'=> input::get('delegate_id')             ));             return redirect::to('/')->with('message', 'your apply lecture');         } 

should be:

 $lec_date = carbon::createfromtimestamp( strtotime( $lecture->start_time ) )->diffforhumans(); 

or possibly:

 $lec_date = $lecture->start_time->diffforhumans(); 

if add lecture.php model:

public function getdates() {     return array('created_at', 'updated_at', 'deleted_at', 'start_time'); } 

from documentation:

by default, eloquent convert created_at, updated_at, , deleted_at columns instances of carbon...

you may customize fields automatically mutated, , disable mutation, overriding getdates method of model.

as diffforhumans documentation states:

the lone argument function other carbon instance diff against, , of course defaults now() if not specified.

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update

if timestamp database being passed diffforhumans in future, carbon automatically makes return like:

when comparing value in future default now:

• 1 hour
• 5 months now

when comparing value in past value:

• 1 hour before
• 5 months before