Timer pausing

asakharov · May 2013

No one is concerned that a particular timer can not be resumed?
Why does the API has methods Timer.pauseAll () - Timer.resumeAll (), has a method Timer:pause(), but method Timer:resume() is absent?

This leads, for example, that after the call pauseAll(), even newly created and starting timers are not running.
It would be desirable to have a mechanism for pause and resume of a particular timers.

Why do we need methods Timer:stop and Timer:reset? Now, if we can not call the resume(), the two methods are essentially the same...

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

@asakharov if you stop a timer and then start it again, it actually resumes.
You need to use Timer:reset() to reset the timer and start it from the beginning

asakharov · May 2013

I tried to do the stop and start. and the timer always starts anew

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

Here is an example where even after stopping, the counter resumes and stops at 100

local t = Timer.new(100, 100)
 
t:addEventListener(Event.TIMER, function(self, e)
	print(self:getCurrentCount())
end, t)
 
stage:addEventListener(Event.MOUSE_DOWN, function()
	if t:isRunning() then
		t:stop()
	else
		t:start()
	end
end)
 
t:start()

asakharov · May 2013

function stopTimer(timer)
if (timer ~= nil and timer:isRunning() == true) then
timer:stop()
timer._suspended = true
end
end

function isTimerSuspended(timer)
return timer ~= nil and timer._suspended ~= nil and timer._suspended == true
end

function resumeTimer(timer)
if (isTimerSuspended(timer) == true) then
timer:start()
timer._suspended = false
end
end

Then i do stopTimer(self.MyTimer)
and resumeTimer(self.MyTimer)
And it starts from the beginning

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

Here is the same test, using your code:

function stopTimer(timer)
 if (timer ~= nil and timer:isRunning() == true) then
 timer:stop()
 timer._suspended = true
 end
end
 
function isTimerSuspended(timer)
 return timer ~= nil and timer._suspended ~= nil and timer._suspended == true
end
 
function resumeTimer(timer)
 if (isTimerSuspended(timer) == true) then
 timer:start()
 timer._suspended = false
 end
end
 
local t = Timer.new(100, 100)
t:addEventListener(Event.TIMER, function(self, e)
	print(self:getCurrentCount())
end, t)
 
stage:addEventListener(Event.MOUSE_DOWN, function()
	if t:isRunning() then
		stopTimer(t)
	else
		resumeTimer(t)
	end
end)
 
t:start()

Timer resumes and stops at 100

asakharov · May 2013

Here is my test:

local t = Timer.new(5000)

function test()
print("hello, world")
end

t:addEventListener(Event.TIMER, test)

stage:addEventListener(Event.MOUSE_DOWN, function()
if t:isRunning() then
t:stop()
print("stoped")
else
t:start()
print("started")
end
end)

t:start()

Stop timer every 4 seconds, and you never see "hello, world" print

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

Ok I see what you mean, then no you can't pause the Timer between the ticks and resume it that way. Even Timer:pauseAll does not do this.
The timer will start from the beginning of the tick.

asakharov · May 2013

No, puaseAll do this. Check this

local t = Timer.new(5000)

function test()
print("hello, world")
end

t:addEventListener(Event.TIMER, test)
local paused = false
stage:addEventListener(Event.MOUSE_DOWN, function()
if paused == false then
Timer.pauseAll()
print("stoped")
paused = true
else
Timer.resumeAll()
print("started")
paused = false
end
end)

t:start()

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

Ok let me check with @atilim
maybe no one just requested the feature before

asakharov · May 2013

Thanks, I will wait for the result.
And what about this "after the call pauseAll(), even newly created and starting timers are not running."
This is expected behavior or not? As for me, I did not expect this.

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

@asakharov basically it sets some kind of global variable, which each timer to check if it is paused or not. Well and All applies to All timers, even newly created, I think it is an expected behavior, as long as they resume running when you resumeAll timers

asakharov · May 2013

As a programmer, I can understand that it is easier to make a global variable timer-blocker than do the array of existing timers and resume his alone.
But as the user of API, I wonder why if I were in the one scene, clicked on pause (called pauseAll), and then went to another menu scene... And then I see that at this scene all created timers are stopped.. I find it illogical. I create a new timer - so I know what I'm doing and it should work...
Of course, to fix it - I can just add resumeAll to the constructor of scene base class.

Imagine that I have put the game on pause. And then in the pause menu'm trying to use a timer. It will not work ...

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

Well the main purpose is as you said, to put the game on pause, that is why none of Timers should run, even new one.
But about scenes, well there is no way for timer to know if the scene has changed, in the end scene is just a sprite object added and removed from stage and does not differ from any other sprite object.

asakharov · May 2013

"Imagine that I have put the game on pause. And then in the pause menu'm trying to use a timer. It will not work ..."
You can come up with different example when you want to pause all timers except one. or start a new timer after a rest stop.
In any case - is uncomfortable constraint.

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

Actually I would suggest using Timers as less as possible, because, at least in my experience, it is much faster and more efficient to use enterframe event.

And well, I think that if it is stated pauseAll, then it means to pause all, even new ones.

In case when you will want a specific Timer to run, you would have to stop all others one by one.

asakharov · May 2013

In my game one object has 4 timers. At the same time, may be a dozen objects on the screen. Do you think that the use by 4 checks in each of dozen onEnterFrame better than the timer every 10 seconds?

If I had the opportunity to pause timers, one by one, I would have done. Stop them - does not suit me.

asakharov · May 2013

I understand that I can write this code in a different way.
But if I need to call a function every 5 seconds .. what could be better than a timer? Why should I do special counters and additional conditions in onEnterFrame.
And I do not understand what is wrong can happen if add resume and pause methods to timer.

asakharov · May 2013

@ar2rsawseen, Do you think that there are no problems with the timers?

ar2rsawseen · May 2013

I can't remember the case, I just remember that by rewriting one app from Timers to enterframe I got a good performance improvement on older mobile phones.

If you don't experience anything, than most probably it is ok, maybe even something was updated in Gideros to make them work better.

About pause/resume as I said, I'll discuss it with @atilim

asakharov · May 2013

If onEnterFram better then Timer and everybody knows about it, then why do we still have no helpers for the timers in onenterframe
something like this

function MySprite:init()
  self.Timer = Timer2.new()
  self.Timer:addListener(MySprite.onCreateEnemy, self, 5000)
  self.Timer:addListener(MySprite.onCreateHelper, self, 10000)
  ...
end
 
function MySprite:onEnterFrame()
  self.Timer:increment()
  .....
end
 
----------------------
 
function Timer:init(callback, object, delay)
...
 
function Timer:increment()
  ++self.Counter
  foreach iter in self.Listeners do
     if (self.Couter % iter == 0) then
       iter.Callback(iter.Object)
     end
  end
end

asakharov · May 2013

My version of the onEnterFrameBased timer:

--[[
	Timer based on onEnterFrame event
]]
 
FrameTimer = Core.class()
 
function FrameTimer:init(callback, object, delay, repeatCount)
	self.Callback = callback
	self.Object = object
	self.Delay = delay
	self.RepeatCount = repeatCount ~= nil and repeatCount or 0
 
	self.Paused = false
	self:reset()
end
 
function FrameTimer:start()
	self.Stopped = false
end
 
function FrameTimer:stop()
	self.Stopped = true
	self.Counter = 0
end
 
function FrameTimer:pause()
	self.Paused = true
end
 
function FrameTimer:resume()
	self.Paused = false
end
 
function FrameTimer:reset()
	self.Counter = 0
	self.HitCounter = 0
	self.Stopped = true
end
 
function FrameTimer:setDelay(value)
	self.Delay = value
end
 
function FrameTimer:increment()
	if ((self.Paused == true) or (self.Stopped == true)) then return end
 
	self.Counter = self.Counter + 1
	if ((self.Counter % self.Delay) == 0) then
		self.Callback(self.Object)
		self.HitCounter = self.HitCounter + 1
		if (self.HitCounter ~= nil and self.HitCounter == self.RepeatCount) then
			self:stop()
		end
	end
end
 
--------------- Timers group controller ---------------
 
TimersController = Core.class()
 
function TimersController:init()
	self.Timers = {}
end
 
function TimersController:convertToFpsTicks(delay)
	return delay / 1000 * application:getFps()
end
 
function TimersController:addTimer(name, callback, object, delay, repeatCount)
	self.Timers[name] = FrameTimer.new(callback, object, self:convertToFpsTicks(delay), repeatCount)
end
 
function TimersController:hasTimer(name)
	return self.Timers[name] ~= nil
end
 
function TimersController:enumerate(functor)
	for key, value in pairs(self.Timers) do
		functor(value)
	end
end
 
function TimersController:increment()
	self:enumerate(FrameTimer.increment)
end
 
function TimersController:pause(name)
	if (self:hasTimer(name) == true) then
		self.Timers[name]:pause()
	end
end
 
function TimersController:resume(name)
	if (self:hasTimer(name) == true) then
		self.Timers[name]:resume()
	end
end
 
function TimersController:start(name)
	if (self:hasTimer(name) == true) then
		self.Timers[name]:start()
	end
end
 
function TimersController:stop(name)
	if (self:hasTimer(name) == true) then
		self.Timers[name]:stop()
	end
end
 
function TimersController:reset(name)
	if (self:hasTimer(name) == true) then
		self.Timers[name]:reset()
	end
end
 
function TimersController:setDelay(name, value)
	if (self:hasTimer(name) == true) then
		self.Timers[name]:setDelay(self:convertToFpsTicks(value))
	end
end
 
function TimersController:pauseAll()
	self:enumerate(FrameTimer.pause)
end
 
function TimersController:resumeAll()
	self:enumerate(FrameTimer.resume)
end
 
function TimersController:startAll()
	self:enumerate(FrameTimer.start)
end
 
function TimersController:stopAll()
	self:enumerate(FrameTimer.start)
end
 
function TimersController:resetAll()
	self:enumerate(FrameTimer.reset)
end

asakharov · May 2013

And the example of its use

--[[
	Base game object.
]]
 
GameObject = Core.class(Sprite)
 
function GameObject:init()
	self.Paused = false
	self.Timers = TimersController.new()
	self:addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, self.onTimer, self)
end
 
----------------- Events ------------------
 
function GameObject:onTimer()
	self.Timers:increment()
end
 
------------------ Stubs ------------------
 
function GameObject:getTypeName()
	TraceAndThrow("Undefind class type name. Please declare name in appropriate game object.")
end
 
-------------- Pause control --------------
 
function GameObject:pause()
	if (self.Paused == false and self.onEnterFrame ~= nil) then
		self:removeEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, self.onEnterFrame, self)
	end
 
	self.Timers:pauseAll()	
	self.Paused = true
end
 
function GameObject:resume()
	if (self.Paused == true) then
		self:addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, self.onEnterFrame, self)
	end
 
	self.Timers:resumeAll()
	self.Paused = false
end
 
function GameObject:isPaused()
	return self.Paused
end
 
----------------- Traces -----------------
 
function GameObject:tracePosition()
	TraceDebug("[" .. self:getTypeName() .. "] - " .. "My position is: x = " .. math.round(self:getX()) .. "; y = " .. math.round(self:getY()) .. ";")
end
 
function GameObject:trace(message)
	TraceDebug("[" .. self:getTypeName() .. "] - " .. message)
end

asakharov · May 2013

But still I would like to be able to pause a specific timer

restlessnate · May 2013

I agree with asakharov. The behavior for pausing and resuming a specific timer should be consistent with the behavior of pausing and resuming all timers.

If I have a power up that lasts for 8 seconds and I pause and resume at 7 seconds using Timer:pauseAll() and Timer:resumeAll() it will behave properly. When it resumes the power up will last 1 more second and then end.

However, if I pause and resume that individual power up timer using Timer:stop() and Timer:start() it will run for another 8 seconds when resumed. If I pause and resume it every 7 seconds it will run indefinitely.

I'm using literally hundreds of timers for sprite animations and have never seen a performance hit. For the same reason, I don't always want to pauseAll but rather pause individual timers. Is there any chance of getting this fixed?

asakharov · June 2013

It seems that there is no chance. @ar2rsawseen promised to ask the @atilim more then 2 weeks ago. But, apparently, was not asked.

For myself, I developed new Timer based on OnEnterFrame event. Productivity gains have not noticed, but I reached my goal with constistent pausing and resuming.

ar2rsawseen · June 2013

Actually I've delivered the message, and @atilim said he'd look at it

atilim · June 2013

yes we've discussed with @ar2rsawseen and we'll add Timer:pause with the next version. Then Timer:start can be used for both starting stopped or paused timer.

asakharov · June 2013

@atilim, @ar2rsawseen, thank you! Our life is a little bit simplified

amaximov · September 2013

Any update on native pause/resuming of timers?

Here is something kind of sketchy I came up with today. Its a class that extends the regular timer class but adds the pause functionality. Might be hard to understand reasons for some of the code but I found a small bug regarding manipulating a Timer object within its own event listener ( Maybe something to do with threads?)

The class also has a feature you can specify with an additional 3rd table with extra keys.

Current supported feature is a new event called Event.TIMER_INFO which can be enabled via "enterFrameUpdates" key being true in the optional table.

Example code:

 
local myTimer = Timer.new(2000, 0, {enterFrameUpdates = true})
myTimer:addEventListener(Event.TIMER_INFO, function(event)
print(event.timeLeft)
print(event.percentLeft)
-- May give wrong values if you change the timer delay.
--Gives negative values for timers that loop(Bug). Will work on this soon.
end)
myTimer:start()

Anyways here is the code and I'll update on this thread when I manage to fix some bugs.

Excuse any terrible writing above, I'm very tired

amaximov · September 2013

Quick update before sleep tonight:

Fixed (I think!) bug where Event.TIMER_INFO event get negative values for looping timers. Also fixed issue with changing the timer delay. Current implementation lets the current "run" with old delay to finish, and then sets the new delay. I plan on making the setDelay function simply extend the time, but I will need to experiment how the native Gideros function works.

Question to Gideros Team:

Does calling Timer:setDelay(theDelay) stop and start the timer? How does this behave? For example does it add on time as I intend to do with my custom library or does it work another way?

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