StayOnTime

A floating, always-on-top countdown timer perfect for live streaming, events, presentations, and Pomodoro technique productivity sessions.

Features

• Always on top - Stays visible above all other windows
• Draggable - Move it anywhere on your screen
• Transparent background - Clean text with drop shadow for visibility
• Customizable duration - Set any timer length from 1-120 minutes
• Overtime mode - Option to continue counting past 0:00 (displays in red)
• Customizable keyboard shortcuts - Configure your own hotkeys or disable them entirely
• Portable - Single .exe file, no installation required
• Self-contained - All settings stored internally, no external config files

Use Cases

Live Streaming

Keep track of stream segments, break timers, or Q&A sessions with a visible countdown that won't interfere with your content.

Events & Presentations

Display time remaining for speakers, workshops, or event segments in a professional, non-intrusive way.

Pomodoro Technique

Perfect for productivity sessions. Set 25-minute work intervals or 5-minute breaks to maintain focus and productivity.

General Time Management

Any situation where you need a visible countdown - cooking, workouts, meetings, study sessions, and more.

Controls

Buttons

• ▶/⏸ (Play/Pause) - Toggle timer start/pause (button changes icon based on state)
• ↺ (Reset) - Reset timer to initial duration
• ⚙ (Settings) - Open settings panel

Keyboard Shortcuts (Optional)

Keyboard shortcuts are disabled by default to avoid conflicts with other applications. Enable them in Settings.

• Space - Start/Pause timer (default)
• R - Reset timer (default)
• Esc - Close application (default)

Note: Keyboard shortcuts can be customized in Settings.

Mouse

• Click and drag the timer display to move the window

Settings

Click the ⚙ (Settings) button to configure:

Timer Duration

Set the default timer length in minutes (1-120 minutes).

• Default: 20 minutes
• Common presets:
  • 5 min (short break)
  • 15 min (quick session)
  • 20 min (default)
  • 25 min (Pomodoro work session)
  • 45-60 min (long work session)

Allow Overtime

Controls what happens when the timer reaches 0:00.

• Enabled (checked): Timer continues past 0:00, displaying negative time in red. Useful for knowing how far over time you've gone.
• Disabled (unchecked): Timer stops at exactly 0:00 and automatically pauses. Useful for strict time limits.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts are disabled by default to avoid conflicts with other applications. Enable and customize them here.

• Enable Keyboard Shortcuts: Toggle to enable or disable all hotkeys (default: disabled)
• Start/Pause Key: Customize the key to start/pause the timer (default: Space)
• Reset Key: Customize the key to reset the timer (default: r)
• Close App Key: Customize the key to close the application (default: Escape)

Examples of custom keys: Enter, Tab, F1-F12, a-z, 0-9, ArrowUp, ArrowDown, etc.

Note: Settings are saved automatically and persist between sessions.

Building from Source

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16 or later)
• npm

Install Dependencies

npm install

Run in Development Mode

npm start

Build Portable Executable

npm run build

This creates a portable .exe file in the dist folder:

• Location: dist/StayOnTime-Portable.exe
• Size: ~150-200 MB (includes Electron runtime)
• Portable: Single file, runs on any Windows PC without installation
• No dependencies: Everything is bundled in the .exe

Technical Details

• Framework: Electron
• Languages: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Platform: Windows (64-bit)
• Settings Storage: localStorage (internal to the app)
• Window: Frameless, transparent, always-on-top

License

MIT License - Feel free to use, modify, and distribute.

Tips

• Position the timer in a corner or edge of your screen where it won't obstruct content
• For streaming, use OBS Window Capture to include the timer in your stream
• The red overtime color provides a clear visual indicator when time is up
• Use 25/5 minute intervals for classic Pomodoro technique (25 min work, 5 min break)