Create a Pomodoro Timer in Python

by rh5

Increasing Efficiency Completed

Increasing Efficiency Journey Overview

Follow this step-by-step increasing efficiency journey to see real progress updates, challenges overcome, and practical experience.

Progress Updates (4 total)

Update #1: Create a Pomodoro Timer in Python

While I begin to focus back into the real world, I need to be time efficient. I discovered the pomodoro technique back in my senior year of high school, and it is a highly effective strategy for me to get work done. Essentially, it involves breaking work into focused intervals (usually 25 minutes) separated by short breaks (usually 5 minutes).

Update #2: Basic GUI Created

80% complete
Although I have designed multiple GUIs with PyQT/Pyside, it always takes me a second to reestablish myself. Using the pyqt docs, and random tutorials I have designed a basic GUI using the QWindow. This is going to be a very basic pomodoro timer for now as I need to go back to grad school apps haha. I just want something that will get the job done.
Challenges Overcome: The primary window is designed. I will want to design it better in the future, but for now the overall idea is there. There will be a countdown, the ability to start and stop the timer, and a display until the long break is ready for you.
Obstacles Faced: Although it should be relatively straightforward, I need to figure out the logic with implementing the countdown, switching to a break countdown, and tracking the long break.
Next Steps: Start playing around with QTimer and what the GUI will look like.
Looking Back: N/A for now.
Additional Notes: Wow, I'm rusty. Although I have a lot of work to do, this is a good project to re-acclimate me.

Update #3: Timer Functionality

100% complete
Using Qt's signals and slots and QTimer, I added a timer that properly decrements and adds a long break after 4 cycles.
Challenges Overcome: Timer properly decrements and the buttons work as expected.
Obstacles Faced: My variable naming convention threw me off and figuring out how to make sure the breaks only incremented after the timer and not the break timer was messing with my jetlagged brain.
Next Steps: I know my next milestone is to test, but I already did that, instead I should do two things: 1. Add notifications when the timers complete. 2. Make this a .exe.
Looking Back: I would have started neglecting the breaks, first implement the timer, then work the breaks in afterwards instead of trying to do it all at once.

Update #4: Added Notifications

100% complete
Well, with the timer working, it would kinda be lame if I didn't get notified when it was done. Thanks to notif-py, cross-platform notifications work really simply, and you can add audio/images whatever. I'm used to .exe's with windows. I need to do some more research for pyinstaller and mac. For now, I will say this is completed :).
Challenges Overcome: I did it!
Obstacles Faced: Can't make a .exe equivalent for mac haha, but if you want the .exe let me know!
Next Steps: I guess I should make it look better!
Looking Back: I tried using Pyler. I pip installed and it didn't work. I tried debugging and eventually just looked for another cross-platform library for notifications. I wish I didn't waste so much time with that one.
Discussion: Have you heard of the Pomodoro Technique? If you have tried it, has it been effective for you? Are there other study methods you use instead?

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