# c-timer

Sets background countdown timers, alarms, and pomodoro sessions with native macOS notifications. Keeps focus intact while working inside the terminal.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 173
- Author: daxaur
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/daxaur/openpaw/tree/HEAD/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-05-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/c-timer

## What it does

The skill directs the coding agent to schedule reminders via background `sleep` subshells and `terminal-notifier`. Running jobs with an ampersand keeps the agent prompt responsive. When time runs out, a native desktop alert appears with a chosen chime.

A built-in pomodoro workflow tracks a 25-minute sprint followed by a 5-minute break. After four rounds, the assistant suggests a longer 15-minute rest. macOS alert sounds such as `Purr`, `Glass`, `Ping`, and `Sosumi` can accompany the notification.

When `terminal-notifier` is missing from the environment, the skill drops back to the system `say` command for speech output. The automation targets macOS utilities.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add daxaur/openpaw --skill c-timer -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/c-timer/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add daxaur/openpaw --skill c-timer -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add daxaur/openpaw --skill c-timer -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install daxaur/openpaw c-timer
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add daxaur/openpaw --skill c-timer -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/daxaur/openpaw --path skills/c-timer
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add daxaur/openpaw --skill c-timer -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/daxaur/openpaw/tree/HEAD/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- trigger background countdowns without pausing active agent work
- run structured 25-minute pomodoro work cycles
- receive audio and desktop alerts on macOS
- parse conversational time intervals into exact seconds

## Example prompts
- Set a timer for 20 minutes with a message to check the deployment
- Start a pomodoro session with the Glass sound
- Remind me in half an hour to review the pull request

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: a0d90165d68ac939.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE a0d90165d68ac939
````text
---
name: c-timer
description: Timers, alarms, and pomodoro — set countdowns with native notifications.
tags: [timer, alarm, pomodoro, countdown, reminder]
---

# Timer — Countdowns & Pomodoro

Set timers and get notified via native macOS notifications. Uses `terminal-notifier` and background sleep.

## Commands

```bash
# Simple timer (runs in background)
(sleep 300 && terminal-notifier -title "Timer" -message "5 minutes is up!" -sound default) &

# Timer with custom message
(sleep 1800 && terminal-notifier -title "Timer" -message "Break time!" -sound Glass) &

# Pomodoro (25 min work, 5 min break)
(sleep 1500 && terminal-notifier -title "Pomodoro" -message "Time for a break!" -sound Purr) &

# Quick reminder (with say for audio)
(sleep 60 && say "One minute timer done" && terminal-notifier -title "Timer" -message "1 minute" -sound default) &
```

## Time Conversions

| Duration | Seconds |
|----------|---------|
| 1 minute | 60 |
| 5 minutes | 300 |
| 10 minutes | 600 |
| 15 minutes | 900 |
| 25 minutes | 1500 |
| 30 minutes | 1800 |
| 1 hour | 3600 |

## Notification Sounds

Available: `default`, `Basso`, `Blow`, `Bottle`, `Frog`, `Funk`, `Glass`, `Hero`, `Morse`, `Ping`, `Pop`, `Purr`, `Sosumi`, `Submarine`, `Tink`

## Pomodoro Workflow

When the user asks for pomodoro:
1. Start 25-minute work timer
2. Notify when work session ends
3. Start 5-minute break timer
4. Notify when break ends
5. Repeat (ask user after 4 cycles if they want a 15-min long break)

## Guidelines

- Always confirm the timer was set with the exact duration
- Use `&` to run in background so the terminal stays responsive
- Default sound: `default` for timers, `Purr` for pomodoro
- If `terminal-notifier` is not installed, fall back to `say` command
- For "remind me in X minutes", treat as a timer
- Convert natural language: "half hour" = 1800s, "quarter hour" = 900s
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE a0d90165d68ac939

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the a0d90165d68ac939 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

© daxaur · MIT · https://github.com/daxaur/openpaw/tree/HEAD/skills/c-timer/SKILL.md

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---
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