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Programmable timer web app (for gym workouts or stretching sessions)

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Over the last couple of months, I’ve been building a timer web app for myself that I use for workout and stretching sessions. My main use-case is gym routines that consist of repeatable sequences, e.g. where you are holding certain positions for a set time (rinse and repeat). The app counts down the program, beeps, and reads the activities out loud.Two things (I suppose) are special about it:- The timers are “programmable”, so you can freely express your own routines and procedures in a declarative notation.- The app is all static (no backend): the entire program is encoded in the URL and can be bookmarked or shared/transferred via QR-code.You can check it out at https://timer.jotaen.net, optionally with a demo program pre-loaded: https://timer.jotaen.net/#demo.Source code is at https://github.com/jotaen/timer. I’ve also written up a small behind-the-scenes on my blog: https://www.jotaen.net/SAKxq

HN · launched Aug 12, 2026 · 30 upvotes (top 19%) · 0 views

Niche: focus and countdown timer apps · 195 launches, 20 in the last 7 days ▼ -5% · Explore this niche →

Category and tags
  • Horizontal
  • B2C
  • Not AI
  • Hobby / open-source project

Visit website ↗ Source listing ↗

More like this: all 195 launches in focus and countdown timer apps →

Could you build this?

Yes A programmable workout and stretching timer is a classic frontend single-page web app relying only on standard JavaScript timers, audio cues, and local storage.

Discussion

14 comments analyzed.

Competitors mentioned: Pith (JS with Python-like syntax), [x]it! (todo/checklist tracking), klog (time tracking)

Concerns raised: iOS PWA localStorage separation from Safari, Web app requires reload each time (~700K), not truly offline, Fullscreen mode blocked on mobile devices, shows address bar, Native audio APIs offer more control than web

Feature requests: Apple Watch support, Nested loops and conditional logic examples with comments, Timeline-based scripting with intervals/timers as first-class citizens, Better naming/tagline to clarify purpose beyond generic 'timer'

Competitors

Other products that read as similar to this one : 390 launches clear the similarity bar, closest 8 shown.

Attention rank: #84 of 391 (itself plus its competitors, highest first, normalized so YC and Product Hunt are compared fairly).

Launched 281 days after the earliest competitor.

Related data

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