Timer program

[ionmich]

Could someone please recommend a simple CLI timer program? That accepts a number of minutes, and plays a sound. Or perhaps the same someone could comment on why this script which works with other OS’es fails here.

#!/bin/bash


#Author: Rossana Motta -  email: rossana.hell.no.127.0.0.1@gmail.com - http://ww2.cs.fsu.edu/~motta
#Version: 1
#Date: June 23rd 2007

VALUE=`kdialog --inputbox "How many minutes do you want to set?" 5`;

SNDFILE="$HOME/bin/timer.wav"


if [[ $VALUE == "" ]]
then
    exit;
fi

VALUEMIN=$(echo "$VALUE*60" | bc)

sleep $VALUEMIN

if [ -s $SNDFILE ]
	then 
		aplay $SNDFILE $SNDFILE $SNDFILE $SNDFILE
	else
		(kdialog --msgbox "Error: file $SNDFILE does not exist. Modify the source code setting a valid full path to a supported file (.wav or .au for example)" --title "Not existing file"; exit)
fi

[dalto]

@ionmich

Or perhaps the same someone could comment on why this script which works with other OS’es fails here.

Do you have the packages alsa-utils, bc and kdialog installed?

[Moonbase59]

For working with the CLI, I still use good old at, as in

$ echo "aplay timer.wav" | at now + 5 minutes

(Substitute your audio player for aplay and your file for timer.wav.)

You might need to install and activate at and the atd first:

$ pacman -Syu at
$ systemctl enable --now atd

(EDIT: Forgot the “echo” above, edited.)

[ionmich]

I like the simplicity of you suggestion, but unfortunately aplay produces white noise trying to play any sound file. I’ll work on a solution.

[ionmich]

I do now thanks to your sharp eye and everything works.

[dalto]

@ionmich

but unfortunately aplay produces white noise trying to play any sound file.

You need to use a wav file. It can’t play an mp3

[Moonbase59]

Using aplay was just an example, you could use almost any audio player you’ve installed, like maybe paplay, mpd or others.

[Cphusion]

You should have marked @dalto’ s answer as the solution. Give credit where credit is due.