[Feature request]: delay breaks if user is currently typing

[jsjoeio]

Version

• [X] I'm using version 1.7.0

Existing requests

• [X] I've checked Existing requests

What operating system are you using?

macOS

Operating System Version

macOS Big Sure 11.4

Problem description

As a user, I find stretchly breaks my flow when I'm in the middle of typing and BAM it's there in my face telling me to take a break 😂

Possible solution

I'd prefer if at the time of a mini-break or long-break it had a check which said "is the user currently typing?". If yes, then delay break by 30 seconds.

Alternative solutions

Not using Stretchly (which I don't want to do 😂, I like it too much)

Additional information

No response

Code of Conduct

• [X] I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[jsjoeio]

@hovancik how difficult would this be to implement? And would you accept a PR?

I'm thinking something like:

• when break starts, check if user is typing
• if typing, set break for one minute

I looked a bit through the codebase, but would love some pointers on where this logic should live.

[hovancik]

Hi @jsjoeio , TBH, not sure whether I want to add this.

It seems not clear to me:

• what does typing mean? what would cound as the break point? one character, one second? what about mouse? (I am currently doing inactivity check elsewhere which gets number of inactive seconds from OS (keyboard and mouse supposedly) )
• is that when break starts or right before? again what time persion or clicks amount?
• and biggest problem for me: different people will want different behaviour :)

I think the most elegant is the current "Postpone" feature. You can postpone break with Ctr/Cmd+X.

As I alternative, I would prefer allowing to Skip/Postopone via adding some actions to notification. Documentation is a bit unclear which OS are supported but people say Mac and Windows have that. But it would also need thinking first.

[jsjoeio]

TBH, not sure whether I want to add this.

Thank you for being honest!

Yeah, I guess you bring up some good points. The main thing that frustrates me is when I'm typing and BAM it's there in my face 😂 I default to the Cmd+X which makes it go away, but I end up postponing multiple times that it just gets skipped.

I guess I'll just stick with that then until/if I can think of a better solution. Thanks for the feedback and hearing me out!

[Enduteri]

Hello @hovancik, I love stretchly, it's a great idea, so much needed for anyone working on the computer ;)

The middle ground here would be not to show notification while user is currently using mouse or keyboard, this is most irritating I think. Inactivity definition could be: no mouse or keyboard input for 200 milliseconds. If active, wait another 200ms if inactive show break. It's a lot better to show break before I start typing then right in the middle of it, or when I move my mouse and I'm about to click something, frustrating. I'm not sure about the timing though, needs some testing.

As you said, this can be different for other users, some might need a BAM to snap out of cubicle, why not add a checkbox for this feature?

Some other thoughts: for people who need to stay focused for some periods of time stretchly is like that colleague in the office interrupting while you're deeply into the task. It's breaking the thoughts process chain, then it takes time to recover. Studies are carried on this topic. It irritates me to the point when I either subconsciously ignore notifications or close stretchly :(

[jsjoeio]

It's breaking the thoughts process chain, then it takes time to recover. Studies are carried on this topic. It irritates me to the point when I either subconsciously ignore notifications or close stretchly :(

I feel you :( I write code for a living and when I'm in the middle and get the notification, it's BAM right in my face. Hence why I opened this issue. Glad to hear I'm not the only one experiencing this.

[hovancik]

Seems to me then you should reconfigure time interval for breaks or how many times they can be postponed?

Not sure how Stretchly helps then, when you take break only when you are done working anyway.

[jsjoeio]

Not sure how Stretchly helps then

It's been a huge help. I usually use the mini break as a way to remind me to change to standing.

when you take break only when you are done working anyway.

All I'm saying is not to show a break if I'm actively typing. That's how it could be improved.

Here are the time intervals I use:

[hovancik]

Ok, gotcha. I'll keep this open then. Would still suggest to play with postpone functionality as described here: https://github.com/hovancik/stretchly#editing-postpone-functionality-

[famod]

+💯! This annoys me so much, that I have been disabling this otherwise awesome app a lot lately.