Step 6: Adding the breaks
Step 6.1 Short break
Instead of returning to state_idle, we want to give the user a timed break, which can be either a short break or a long break. We start with the short break. Add state_short_break to your variables. When the break is over, we also want to alert the user that their break is over. This state, state_work_alarm, should also be in your list of variables. We also store its duration in a variable called short_break_duration. It is set to three seconds now:
##--- Variables
# State variables
state_short_break = 3
state_work_alarm = 4
# Timer variables
short_break_duration = 3
The functions that we made in the last steps should be enough to implement the behavior we want. We need to add two more elif statements to take the two new states into account. The program should enter state_short_break when state_break_alarm is over, and go into state_work_alarm when the break is over. From state_work_alarm, it should return to state_work. We can make use of the different LED colors to differentiate between all these states.
##--- Main loop
while True:
# State Idle
if current_state == state_idle:
if check_button_press():
current_state = state_work
set_led_color(led_green)
set_timer(work_duration)
set_buzzer(False)
# State Work
elif current_state == state_work:
if timer_expired():
current_state = state_break_alarm
set_led_color(led_red)
set_buzzer(True)
# State Break Alarm
elif current_state == state_break_alarm:
if check_button_press():
current_state = state_short_break
set_led_color(led_blue)
set_timer(short_break_duration)
set_buzzer(False)
# State Short Break
elif current_state == state_short_break:
if timer_expired():
current_state = state_work_alarm
set_led_color(led_yellow)
set_buzzer(True)
# State Work Alarm
elif current_state == state_work_alarm:
if check_button_press():
current_state = state_work
set_led_color(led_green)
set_timer(work_duration)
set_buzzer(False)
It’s time to upload your code to the ItsyBitsy and see if it works! Your code should now:
- Have the LED turn a different color upon entering a new state
- Sound the alarm in states state_break_alarm and state_work_alarm
- Give the user a timed break
Here you can find the code we have until now: ** add link **
Step 6.2 Long break
After three short breaks, we want to give the user a long break before they have to go back to work. We need to take into account how many breaks the user has had. Create a new variable called break_counter, a new state called state_long_break, and a variable for the duration:
##--- Variables
break_counter = 0
# State variables
state_long_break = 5
# Timer variables
long_break_duration = 8
Now we need to go into state_break_alarm and count the amount of times that the alarm has gone off. If this number is less than 3, we enter state_short_break. If it’s 3 or more, we reset the break_counter back to 0 and enter state_long_break.
# State Break Alarm
elif current_state == state_break_alarm:
if check_button_press():
set_buzzer(False)
if break_counter < 3:
current_state = state_short_break
set_led_color(led_blue)
set_timer(short_break_duration)
break_counter = break_counter + 1
else:
current_state = state_long_break
set_led_color(led_white)
set_timer(long_break_duration)
break_counter = 0
Now we can add in the behavior for the long break. When the timer runs out, we want to turn off the Pomodoro timer and return to state_idle:
# State Long Break
elif current_state == state_long_break:
if timer_expired():
current_state = state_idle
set_led_color(led_off)
set_buzzer(False)
And here we have a functional Pomodoro timer! Upload your code to the ItsyBitsy and see if it works.