Duration

Durations let you work with time in your app. Think of them as a simple way to say “wait 5 seconds” or “show this for 2 minutes.”

How Durations Work

In Rhyme, you write durations as a number followed by a time unit:

// Basic duration examples
$quick-pause = 2s      // 2 seconds
$loading-time = 500ms  // 500 milliseconds (half a second)
$lunch-break = 1h      // 1 hour

Time Units You Can Use

Here are all the time units available:

• ms - milliseconds (1/1000 of a second)
• s - seconds
• m - minutes
• h - hours
• d - days
• w - weeks
• y - years (365 days)

// Different ways to express time
$blink = 100ms        // Quick blink
$countdown = 10s      // 10 second countdown
$meeting = 30m        // Half hour meeting
$workday = 8h         // 8 hour workday
$weekend = 2d         // 2 day weekend
$vacation = 2w        // 2 week vacation

Working with Durations

You can compare durations in your app:

// Comparing durations
if $user-time < 5s
  .text "That was fast!"
endif

// Check if time is up
if $elapsed >= 30s
  .text "Time's up!"
endif

Real-World Examples

Here are some common ways to use durations:

// Show a welcome message briefly
.text "Welcome!"
wait 3s
.clear

// Create a simple timer
$timer = 1m
.text "You have $timer to complete the task"

// Control animations
.animate fade-in 500ms

// Set timeouts
timeout 30s
  .text "Time's up!"
end

Tips for Beginners

1. Start simple: Use seconds (s) for most things when you’re learning
2. Be precise: Use milliseconds (ms) for quick animations
3. Think naturally: Use the unit that makes sense - 2h is clearer than 7200s

Remember: durations make your app feel more dynamic by controlling when things happen!