Apache SeaTunnel 2.3.12 introduces timestamp-based startup for its MySQL CDC connector, solving a common operational pain point. Previously, users needed to specify exact binlog positions or GTID to resume failed tasks, a process that was technically precise but difficult in practice. The new mode lets developers specify a Unix timestamp in milliseconds, aligning the tool with business-time semantics instead of low-level database internals.

The feature works by automatically locating the correct binlog file and offset for a given timestamp, then skipping all earlier events. This makes recovery, backfilling, and time-window synchronization far more intuitive for teams who know when data issues occurred but not the corresponding binlog coordinates. It complements existing modes like `SPECIFIC` and `LATEST` rather than replacing them.

Configuration is straightforward: set `startup.mode` to "timestamp" and provide the `startup.timestamp` value. Internally, SeaTunnel uses a `TimestampFilterMySqlStreamingChangeEventSource` to process the binlog stream. The change has been validated through integration tests. For developers managing production CDC pipelines, this reduces error-prone manual work and simplifies operational recovery scenarios.