OrreryTimer 🕰️✨

OrreryTimer is a dynamic multi-player timer designed for games, workshops, or any activity where turns pass sequentially in a circular fashion. It provides a clear visual focus on the current participant, their immediate predecessor and successor, and the direction of play, ensuring everyone stays engaged and aware of the flow.

(Replace with an actual screenshot or GIF once available)

Core Concept

Inspired by an orrery (a mechanical model of the solar system), OrreryTimer visualizes players in a circular sequence. The "Current Player" is centrally featured, with the "Previous Player" and "Next Player" flanking them, clearly indicating the flow of turns. This tool is perfect for board games, round-robin discussions, timed presentations, or any scenario needing structured turn management with individual countdowns.

Key Features ✨

• Circular Player Display:
  • Central focus on the Current Player.
  • Adjacent displays for Previous and Next Players.
  • Clear visual connection between these three roles.
  • Animated indicator showing the direction of play (clockwise/counter-clockwise).
• Individual Player Timers:
  • Each player has a customizable countdown timer (MM:SS).
  • Timers continue into negative time if the limit is reached (up to -59:59).
  • Players whose timers reach max negative time are "skipped" but remain visually present.
  • Visual feedback: Red pulsating effect for active timers (background for positive, text for negative).
• Two Game Modes:
  1. Normal Mode (Single Active Timer):
     • Only the Current Player's timer is active.
     • Pass turns via swipe gestures (left/right) or player-specific hotkeys.
     • Tap Current Player to pause/resume their timer.
  2. All Timers Running Mode:
     • All player timers start and run simultaneously.
     • Ideal for scenarios where everyone has a global time limit or races against each other.
     • Players can pause their own timer when they are current.
     • Global "Start All / Stop All" control.
     • App-wide visual (pulsating background) and audio (continuous ticking) cues when active.
• Player Management:
  • Add, edit, and delete players (minimum 3, up to 10).
  • Upload player photos or use default avatars.
  • Set initial timer values per player.
  • Assign unique "Next Turn" hotkeys and non-unique "Stop My Timer" hotkeys.
  • Easily re-order players (drag-and-drop preferred).
• Intuitive Controls:
  • Swipe gestures for changing Current Player and turn direction in Normal Mode.
  • Tap interactions for timer control.
  • Global hotkey for "Stop All Timers."
• Audio Feedback:
  • Continuous ticking in "All Timers Running Mode."
  • 3-second alert tick when a timer becomes active in "Normal Mode."
  • Option to mute all sounds.
• Persistence: Player configurations, current timer states, and game settings are saved locally, so your setup is ready when you reopen the app.
• Global Reset: A "Reset Game" button to revert all timers to initial values and reset the game state.

Tech Stack (Planned/Example)

Getting Started

(Details to be added once development begins)

1. Prerequisites: *
2. Installation:

   git clone https://gitea.virtonline.eu/2HoursProject/OrreryTimer.git
   cd OrreryTimer
   
   

3. Running the Application:

Usage Guide

1. Manage Players:
   • Click "Manage Players."
   • Add at least 3 players. For each player:
     • Enter a name.
     • Optionally, upload a photo.
     • Set their initial timer duration.
     • Optionally, assign a "Next Turn" hotkey (must be unique) and a "Stop My Timer" hotkey.
   • Arrange players in the desired turn order.
   • Save changes.
2. Main Screen:
   • The Current, Previous, and Next players will be displayed.
   • The turn direction indicator shows the flow.
3. Normal Mode (Default):
   • Tap the Current Player's area to start/pause their timer.
   • Swipe left or right on the Current Player's area to pass the turn and set the direction. The new Current Player's timer will start/resume.
   • If the Current Player has a "Next Turn" hotkey, pressing it will pass the turn.
4. All Timers Running Mode:
   • Click "Start All Timers." All player timers will begin counting down.
   • The app background will pulse red, and a ticking sound will play.
   • When it's a player's "focus" as Current Player, they can tap their area or use their "Stop My Timer" hotkey to pause their own timer. The focus will then shift to the next player with a running timer.
   • Click "Stop All Timers" (or use the global hotkey) to pause all running timers.
5. Reset Game:
   • Click "Reset Game" and confirm to restore all timers to their initial values and reset player positions.

Configuration

• Player Hotkeys: Configured in the "Add/Edit Player" form.
  • "Next Turn" Key: Advances to the next player in Normal Mode.
  • "Stop My Timer" Key: Pauses the current player's timer in All Timers Running Mode.
• Global "Stop All" Hotkey: [Specify default, e.g., 'Escape' or 'S'] - this pauses all timers in any mode.
• Audio Mute: Look for a settings icon or option to mute all sounds.

Future Enhancements 🚀

• Light/Dark theme options.
• Ability to save and load different game setups (player lists & timer configurations).