[Feature request]: Prominent + Persistent Visual Countdown for folks with time blindness.

[src-r-r]

Version

• I'm using version 1.20.0

Existing requests

• I've checked Existing requests

Advanced Preferences

• I've checked Advanced Preferences

What operating system are you using?

Windows

Operating System Version

Ubuntu 24.04

Problem description

Thanks for Stretchly! It's been really helpful to my mental health.

However I'm ashamed to say I usually ignore the single warning before breaks, so I find breaks very jarring, and sometimes I even skip them.

Possible solution

I think a persistent visual timer would be a good idea. I already tried implementing the feature in workrave without opening a ticket--no one was asking for it, and the author ended up (rightly) rejecting the fix.

Essentially the way I implemented it was 2 bars (each 2 pixels in height) at the top of the screen, overlaying everything. One bar represented a short break, another represented the long break. The bars would get shorter we got to the breaks. It didn't get in way of anything and it did wonders to combat time blindness so each break was expected and I was able to mentally prepare for it.

Alternative solutions

I think bars would be the easiest to not ignore while at the same time being easy to implement. There are other implementations I thought of, but I don't think they would be as effective:

• The stretchly taskbar icon is a pie chart or countdown clock instead of a static icon. I would definitely ignore this.
• Include a desktop widget. This might be a headache because it would need to be built for Windows, Mac, Plasma, Unity, Cinnamon, XFCE...
• Do something else slightly visually disruptive, like blurring or darkening the desktop. I don't think this is a very good idea, but it might be.

Additional information

No response

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[hovancik]

Hey @src-r-r and thanks for feedback.

The stretchly taskbar icon is a pie chart or countdown clock instead of a static icon. I would definitely ignore this.

You can enable this in Preferences -> Theme -> Menubar (Tray)

Why do you say you would ignore but suggest 2px solution? I guess that's typo?

Essentially the way I implemented it was 2 bars (each 2 pixels in height) at the top of the screen, overlaying everything. One bar represented a short break, another represented the long break. The bars would get shorter we got to the breaks. It didn't get in way of anything and it did wonders to combat time blindness so each break was expected and I was able to mentally prepare for it.

In my opinion what you describe is the tray icon feature Stretchly has.