3/28/2024 0 Comments Tomato timer api![]() ![]() The source for this demo is available on GitHub. But when a tab loses focus and the main thread slows, the worker timer outperforms the main thread timer. When a tab is active and the main thread isn’t throttled, both the main thread and worker timers have a negligible delay. ![]() The results from these tests suggest a notable difference between the two approaches. The following table represents the results when the browser tab does not have focus (throttling of the main thread). ![]() The following table represents the results when the browser tab has focus (little to no throttling). We can build on the previous example to illustrate the difference between running a timer on the main thread and in a worker. main.js ( function () )() Main and Worker Thread Comparisons In this file, we’ll set up a simple setTimeout function that logs the difference between the starting and ending times. Following is a simple example of a timer in a web worker.įirst, we need a file with some code to run in the worker. It involves creating a separate JavaScript file, whose contents run in the worker. For example, you won’t have access to the DOM, but you’re still able to access things like setInterval and setTimeout. Web workers have a limited set of APIs they can access. ![]() The Web Worker API allows code execution in a thread separate from the main thread. Thanks to a dedicated worker thread, even when minimized or hidden, the timer maintains accuracy over periods of several hours. Moving the execution of the Timer to a web worker increased its accuracy and reliability. This posed a serious problem as the application’s primary role is to help users keep track of their time. So, a lag of a few milliseconds compounded over time, producing an inconsistent experience. Sometimes this lag was only a few seconds, while at other times it could be up to 10 minutes! When a timer completed, it would kick off a new timer. I noticed that when minimized or hidden, the application timer would lag behind the system clock. Developed with Electron, it uses a Timer class powered by setInterval. I created a Pomodoro timer application, Pomotroid, to help track and time these segments. Pomodoro is a productivity technique that involves chunking time into segments of focused effort and unfocused downtime. I encountered the issue of timer inaccuracy when working on a Pomodoro timer application. Case Study: Improving Pomodoro Timer Accuracy Yet, some scenarios need greater reliability and accuracy. If the main thread gets blocked or throttled, as when a browser tab loses focus, execution of setTimeout and setInterval can lag.įor most applications, a setInterval or setTimeout executed in the main thread will suffice–the potential lag is often small and wouldn’t impact the experience. Operations, including timing with setTimeout or setInterval, share CPU cycles with other tasks in this thread. This thread has many responsibilities, including listening and responding to user events, updating the UI, etc. The Problem with Timersīrowsers execute JavaScript in a single thread. Most browsers offer a Web Worker API, allowing worker threads to run in the background. One reason for this drift is that the JavaScript executes in a single main thread, which shares CPU cycle time with many other processes.Ī technique for increasing the accuracy of setTimeout and setInterval is executing them in a dedicated thread, separate from the main thread. In certain contexts, as when a browser tab or window loses focus, setInterval and setTimeout timing can drift, diminishing their accuracy. Yet, the accuracy and reliability of these timers vary. Creating timers in JavaScript with setTimeout or setInterval is a simple and straightforward process. ![]()
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