Kitchen Timer

[atiris]

If you have an opinion on whether or not a timer belongs in an app like Mealie, please contribute your voice to this discussion.
After the removal of the in-app simple timer (see PR #4467 and FIX #4857) and following the discussion around timer functionality, we’d like to know what kind of timer solution you’d prefer for Mealie.

Maybe a simple timer that you just click on and go without closing the page is enough for you, and when you need something more reliable, you can set a timer on the oven. Others might just want a robust solution or nothing at all. So I defined the following options:

Guaranteed Timer or nothing (this is the current status)

A robust, persistent timer that keeps running regardless of device state (blocking sleep, preventing page exit, or using a native timer). Maybe you're only expecting this solution and have no use for anything else. This solution is not possible on a mobile website unless a native timer application (or other solution) is used.

Simple Timer (partly what was here before)

A timer that starts on simple click on time in receipe and counts down only on the open page. It will ring when done, but if you leave the page or your device sleeps, the timer will cancel - has limited functionality; requires users to keep the page open. It may display a warning that you should set a physical kitchen timer instead.

No Timer in Mealie

The app would not include any timer functionality (even if guaranteed timer solution is available), and users should use their system’s native or external timers. This approach simplifies the app’s functionality.

Which option do you prefer? If I forgot something, feel free to mention it in the discussion. Thanks

[Chaser-0]

It would be cool if there would be an optional webhook for this, too. Google Home has an undocumented api to set and read timers. Would be really cool to utilize this.

[Yrlish]

To build upon this idea, what if the server was responsible for the counting in timers? Server could integrate with stuff and push notifications.
Or simply send a message to the client (via websocket?) the the timer is done and should ring? That means that the client still would ring late if it has went to sleep. I don't know if client can be kept awake with a websocket.

[Yrlish]

One could allow websites to send notifications in the browser right? Those can be sent anytime if I'm not mistaken, seen lots of spam notifications on other people's devices accepting everything on websites.

Will this allow the client to be woken back up?

[Chaser-0]

I think it would be in general a good idea to just save the target timestamp and check once a second if its <= the current timestamp. This way it would be as precise as possible - even if you leave the site in an accident. Of course only if you return.

[JuMi46]

Hello everyone, chiming in with my possible solution to make timers fully reliable in Mealie; with webhooks and a newly created timer app solely for this purpose. Check it out and let me know. discussions/7540

[Yrlish]

I would rather have the simple timer with a warning than nothing at all honestly. I get a little annoyed every time I have to switch to the clock app and away from the recipe. Especially when my brain is very distracted and forgetful...

[bugs181]

Not only distracted and forgetful but just busy life and sometimes overwhelming of having to prepare a meal. The more complex a task becomes, the more difficult it is to accomplish with little to no stress.