Intention RS Slint

A simple focus timer application built with Slint and Rust. Set your intention, choose a duration, and the app will hide for that time before reappearing to ask for your next focus.

How It Works

The application uses a simple two-process architecture:

1. Main Process: Handles the timer logic and repeatedly prompts for new tasks
2. Prompt Process: Shows the UI window and returns user selection as JSON

Architecture

Parent Process (cargo run)
├── Calls child process with "prompt" argument
├── Receives JSON result (duration + focus text)
├── Sleeps for specified duration using std::thread::sleep()
└── Loops indefinitely until child process fails

Child Process (cargo run -- prompt)
├── Shows UI window
├── Captures user selection (duration button + text input)
├── Returns JSON result and exits
└── Clean, simple lifecycle

Usage

Normal Operation

cargo run

This starts the continuous timer loop. The app will:

1. Show the prompt window
2. Wait for you to enter a focus and select duration
3. Hide for the selected time
4. Reappear and repeat

Single Prompt Mode

cargo run -- prompt

This shows the UI once and returns the result as JSON:

{"duration_minutes":5,"focus_text":"Write documentation"}

Features

• Duration Options: 3m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 30m, 60m
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Alt-[1-6] for quick duration selection
• Always on Top: Window stays above other applications (Linux Wayland)
• Fresh State: Clean window each cycle
• Simple Timer: Uses reliable std::thread::sleep() instead of complex UI timers
• JSON Output: Structured data for integration with other tools

UI Layout

The prompt window contains:

• Title: "What will you focus on?"
• Text Input: Multiline field for your intention
• Duration Label: "For how long? (Alt-[1–6])"
• Duration Buttons: Six buttons in 2×3 grid (3m, 5m, 10m, 15m, 30m, 60m)
• Settings Icon: Top-right corner (placeholder for future features)

Keyboard Shortcuts

• Alt-1: 3 minutes
• Alt-2: 5 minutes
• Alt-3: 10 minutes
• Alt-4: 15 minutes
• Alt-5: 30 minutes
• Alt-6: 60 minutes

Development

Building

cargo check    # Check compilation
cargo build    # Build the application
cargo run      # Run in normal mode

Dependencies

• slint: UI framework
• serde: JSON serialization/deserialization
• serde_json: JSON handling

Architecture Benefits

• No Complex Threading: Simple process-based approach avoids Slint threading issues
• Robust Timer: Uses system sleep instead of UI timers
• Clean State Management: Each prompt is a fresh process
• Easy Integration: JSON output enables scripting and automation
• Reliable: Process isolation prevents UI issues from affecting timer logic

Future Enhancements

• Capture and return actual text input content
• Add settings functionality
• Support for custom durations
• Timer pause/resume
• Statistics tracking
• Sound notifications

License

This project is open source. See LICENSE file for details.