[CentOS] OT: Looking for a timer/counter script

Hello,

Was hoping someone could help me find a script for a website that increments
at a specified rate over a specified period of time, something similar to
the US National Debt site.  I searched hotscripts but not really sure what
this type script would be called.

TIA

PS  I looked at the code for the national debt script but I can't make head
or tails of it.