Pomodoro Timer in Ubuntu

I finally decided to try Pomodoro technique to see how well it can improve my productivity as I am a lot disorganised, lazy sorta geek (well who isn’t?). So I built up a small script which acts as a Pomodoro timer for me using Ubuntu notification system (Do read it if you haven’t, you need to install lib-notify package for this script to work).

I have created a launcher in my top panel, with which I start a new pomodori (name for a new period of time, lets call it a Pomodoro anyway). It calls up the script which alerts me that a new Pomodoro (time period) has started and then alert me again when the timer ends and I should take a small break.

Here is the script:

DISPLAY=:0 notify-send -t 1000 -i /home/ashfame/Dropbox/Ubuntu/icons/pomodoro.png "New Pomodoro starts" "You have 25 minutes to work."
# 25 minutes timer
sleep 1500
DISPLAY=:0 notify-send -t 1000 -i /home/ashfame/Dropbox/Ubuntu/icons/pomodoro.png "Pomodoro ends" "Take a break!"

As soon as I click the launcher, the first notification appears telling me that a new Pomodoro has started.

Then it sleeps for 1500 secs = 25 minutes. And after that the second notification appears telling me that the Pomodoro has ended.

I just take a 3-5 minutes break or even longer (I am the boss!), and then I again click on the launcher starting another Pomodoro and I work for another 25 minutes. You can use the same tomato icon, if you want.

Enjoy the awesomeness of Ubuntu and ditch Windows, yes I am an Ubuntu advocate and will push you to switch all the time 😛

Have your say in the comments!