A minimalistic study countdown timer designed to boost productivity while allowing you to take quick notes. This tool ensures you stay focused without distractions, automatically resuming your session after system restarts.
- Simple and Minimalistic: A transparent, always-on-top timer.
- Task Notes: Jot down tasks directly within the app and have them saved automatically.
- Resume Where You Left Off: The timer pauses on shutdown and resumes from the same point when the system restarts.
- Always Accessible: The window cannot be closed and can be dragged anywhere on the screen.
This guide walks you through the steps to create and run a transparent countdown timer with a notes feature using Python. The timer will run without showing a command prompt window and without requiring administrator privileges.
- Python 3.11 installed on your system
tkinterfor GUI (usually included by default with Python installations)- Your Python script file:
countdown_timer.py
- Python Executable:
C:\Program Files\Python311\pythonw.exe - Python Script:
C:\Users\sanchit\Desktop\countdown_timer.py - Save/Notes Files:
timer_state.jsonandnotes.jsonshould be created automatically by the script in the same directory ascountdown_timer.py.
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Create a Shortcut on your desktop:
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Right-click on your desktop and select New > Shortcut.
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In the location field, enter the following command:
"C:\Program Files\Python311\pythonw.exe" "C:\Users\sanchit\Desktop\countdown_timer.py" -
Click Next.
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Name the shortcut (e.g., "Countdown Timer").
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Click Finish.
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Shortcut Properties:
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Right-click the shortcut and select Properties.
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In the Target field, ensure the command is exactly:
"C:\Program Files\Python311\pythonw.exe" "C:\Users\sanchit\Desktop\countdown_timer.py" -
In the Start in field, enter:
C:\Users\sanchit\Desktop -
Click Apply and then OK.
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- Right-click on
countdown_timer.py(located on your desktop) and select Properties. - Go to the Security tab.
- Make sure your user account has full control permissions.
- If not, click Edit and grant the required permissions.
- Click Apply and OK.
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Right-click on the newly created shortcut.
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Select Properties.
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Click the Advanced button.
- Make sure "Run as administrator" is unchecked.
- Click OK, then Apply, and OK.
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Compatibility (if needed):
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Ensure "Run this program as an administrator" is unchecked.
- Click Apply and OK.
If you still face issues running the shortcut without admin rights, use Task Scheduler to automate the script launch:
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Open Task Scheduler:
- Press
Win + R, typetaskschd.msc, and press Enter.
- Press
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Create a New Task:
- Click Action > Create Basic Task.
- Name the task (e.g., "Countdown Timer").
- Click Next.
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Set the Trigger:
- Choose "At log on" or any trigger you prefer.
- Click Next.
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Set the Action:
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Choose Start a program.
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In the Program/script field, enter the path to
pythonw.exe:C:\Program Files\Python311\pythonw.exe -
In the Add arguments field, enter the path to your Python script:
"C:\Users\sanchit\Desktop\countdown_timer.py" -
Click Next and Finish.
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General Tab Settings:
- In the task you just created, go to the General tab.
- Ensure "Run only when user is logged on" is selected.
- Uncheck "Run with highest privileges".
- Save the task.
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Test the Task:
- Right-click the task and select Run. Check if the timer runs without requiring admin rights.
- Double-click the shortcut on your desktop to run the countdown timer.
- If you set up Task Scheduler, the timer should also start automatically based on the trigger you defined (e.g., at user logon).
- Notes and Timer Save Files: The script will create
timer_state.jsonandnotes.jsonin the same directory ascountdown_timer.pyto manage the timer state and store your notes. - Transparency and Positioning: The timer window is designed to be transparent and draggable on your desktop.
- Resetting Permissions: If you move the script to another directory, you might need to update permissions or recreate the shortcut with the new path.
- If the shortcut does not run without administrator privileges, double-check the Security and Compatibility settings.
- Use Task Scheduler if a shortcut alone does not suffice for your setup.
- Ensure Python and the script paths are correctly specified in the shortcut or Task Scheduler.