timer

name	timer
description	Countdown timers with alarm beep and stopwatches with elapsed time. For short durations (seconds to minutes). Use scheduler for longer/complex tasks. Tools: timer.

Timer Skill

Simple countdown timers and stopwatches. When a timer expires, it plays an acoustic alarm (beep). That's it – no complex tasks, no sub-agents, just a beep.

Use the timer tool for:

• Countdown timers that need an acoustic alarm when time is up
• Stopwatches for tracking elapsed time

Examples: "egg timer 20 seconds", "Set a timer for 3 minutes", "Start stopwatch for running"

NOT suitable for: Complex tasks that need execution (e.g. sending SMS, making HTTP requests, running TTS). Use the scheduler tool instead for tasks that require a sub-agent to execute instructions.

Tool: timer

Start a countdown timer

{
  "action": "start_timer",
  "duration_ms": 180000,
  "label": "3 minute timer"
}

The duration_ms is the countdown duration in milliseconds (e.g. 180000 = 3 minutes).

The label is optional. If provided, it will be used when describing the timer to the user.

When the timer expires, it will play a beep and be automatically removed from the list.

Start a stopwatch

{
  "action": "start_stopwatch",
  "label": "Running stopwatch"
}

The label is optional. Stopwatches count up from the start time and can be queried for elapsed time or stopped.

List all active timers and stopwatches

{
  "action": "list"
}

Returns all currently active timers and stopwatches.

Get status of a timer or stopwatch

{
  "action": "get_status",
  "timer_id": "timer_1234567890_abcd"
}

For countdown timers: Returns remaining time. For stopwatches: Returns elapsed time.

Stop a stopwatch

{
  "action": "stop",
  "timer_id": "stopwatch_1234567890_abcd"
}

Stops the stopwatch and removes it from the list. Returns the final elapsed time.

Note: Can only be used on stopwatches. Use cancel to delete a countdown timer.

Cancel a timer or stopwatch

{
  "action": "cancel",
  "timer_id": "timer_1234567890_abcd"
}

Cancels and removes a timer or stopwatch from the list.

---

Workflow: Set a timer

Examples: "egg timer 20 seconds", "Set a timer for 3 minutes"

IMPORTANT: Use the timer tool when the user wants an acoustic alarm. Use the scheduler tool only when the user wants a complex task executed (e.g. "send SMS", "remind me to call", "check calendar").

Time calculation: Use datetime tool with action: "now" to get the current time (Unix timestamp in milliseconds) for any time-related calculations. Do NOT calculate timestamps manually.

1. Calculate duration in milliseconds (e.g. 20 seconds = 20000 ms, 3 minutes = 180000 ms)
2. timer → start_timer with:
   • duration_ms: calculated duration
   • label (optional): user-friendly label (e.g. "egg timer")
3. Confirm: "Timer started: 20 seconds" or "Timer started: 3 minutes"

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Workflow: Start a stopwatch

Examples: "Start stopwatch for running" / "Start a stopwatch"

1. timer → start_stopwatch with:
   • label (optional): user-friendly label (e.g. "Running")
2. Confirm: "Stopwatch started: Running"

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Workflow: Check stopwatch elapsed time

Examples: "How long has the stopwatch been running?" / "What's the elapsed time?"

1. timer → list → find the stopwatch by label or type
2. timer → get_status with the found timer_id
3. Report elapsed time to user: "The stopwatch has been running for 5 minutes and 23 seconds"

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Workflow: Stop a stopwatch

Examples: "Stop the running stopwatch" / "Stop the stopwatch"

1. timer → list → find the stopwatch by label
2. timer → stop with the found timer_id
3. Confirm: "Stopwatch stopped: 5 minutes 23 seconds"

---

Workflow: List all timers

Examples: "What timers are running?" / "Show me all timers"

1. timer → list
2. Report all active timers and stopwatches to the user (describe by label and time, NOT by ID)

---

Workflow: Cancel a timer

Examples: "Cancel the timer" / "Delete the timer"

1. timer → list → find the timer by label or description
2. timer → cancel with the found timer_id
3. Confirm: "Timer cancelled"

---

Examples

"Egg timer 20 seconds"

1. Calculate: 20 seconds = 20000 ms
2. timer → start_timer with duration_ms: 20000, label: "egg timer"
3. Confirm: "Timer started: 20 seconds"

"Set a timer for 3 minutes"

1. Calculate: 3 minutes = 180000 ms
2. timer → start_timer with duration_ms: 180000
3. Confirm: "Timer started: 3 minutes"

"Start stopwatch for running"

1. timer → start_stopwatch with label: "Running"
2. Confirm: "Stopwatch started: Running"

"How long has the stopwatch been running?"

1. timer → list → find stopwatch with label "Running"
2. timer → get_status with the found timer_id
3. Report: "The stopwatch has been running for 5 minutes and 23 seconds"

"Stop the running stopwatch"

1. timer → list → find stopwatch with label "Running"
2. timer → stop with the found timer_id
3. Confirm: "Stopwatch stopped: 5 minutes 23 seconds"

"What timers are running?"

1. timer → list
2. Report all timers: "You have 2 active timers: a 3-minute timer and a running stopwatch"

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Important rules

• Timer = acoustic alarm only: The timer tool only plays a beep when time is up. For complex tasks (SMS, HTTP, TTS, etc.), use the scheduler tool instead.
• Time calculations: Use device tool with get_time action to get the current time (now_ms) for any time-related calculations. Do NOT calculate timestamps manually.
• Timer IDs are internal: Never show timer IDs to the user. Describe timers by their label and time.
• Auto-removal: Timers are automatically removed when they expire. Stopwatches are removed when stopped.
• Multiple timers: Multiple timers and stopwatches can run in parallel.
• Duration format: Always use milliseconds for duration_ms (e.g. 20 seconds = 20000, 1 minute = 60000, 3 minutes = 180000).
• Stop vs Cancel: Use stop only for stopwatches (returns elapsed time). Use cancel for any timer/stopwatch (just removes it).