How to get current timestamp with CQL while using Command Line?

In new version of cassandra could use toTimestamp(now()), and note that function dateof is deprecated.

e.g

insert into dummy(id, name, size, create_date) values (1, 'Eric', 12, toTimestamp(now()));

You can use the timeuuid functions now() and dateof() (or in later versions of Cassandra, toTimestamp()), e.g.,

INSERT INTO TEST (ID, NAME, VALUE, LAST_MODIFIED_DATE)
                  VALUES ('2', 'elephant',  'SOME_VALUE', dateof(now()));

The now function takes no arguments and generates a new unique timeuuid (at the time where the statement using it is executed). The dateOf function takes a timeuuid argument and extracts the embedded timestamp. (Taken from the CQL documentation on timeuuid functions).

Cassandra >= 2.2.0-rc2

dateof() was deprecated in Cassandra 2.2.0-rc2. For later versions you should replace its use with toTimestamp(), as follows:

INSERT INTO TEST (ID, NAME, VALUE, LAST_MODIFIED_DATE)
                  VALUES ('2', 'elephant',  'SOME_VALUE', toTimestamp(now()));