Create a pomodoro timer Mac app with the free tools Automator and Apple scripts. 2 mins tutorial

on macOs I could not find a super-simple ad-free app to just remind me every 25 mins to take a break with a simple popup, so I’ve created one using Automator, an Apple script of 5 lines of code, and placed it into macOs login items. Below how I did it.

How to do that

launch Automator and create an Application to run Apple Script

Automator — create an application

Automator: run apple script

Paste the following

repeat
 display dialog "Take a break every 25 mins" buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
 beep
 delay 1500
end repeat

Save into /Applications or wherever you want

Save

Open mac Login Items and add your app

login items

The app will show as a spinning icon on the Apple menu. You can click and close it.

Optional changes

If you want to use notification instead of popup, use display notification “message” . If you want to exclude them when an app is open (e.g. VLC whilst you are watching something), then use if application “VLC” is not running then

repeat
 beep
 if application "VLC" is not running then display notification "Take a break every 25 mins"
 delay 1500
end repeat

Useful links:

• Apple script official (verbose) guide
• Apple script commands (including display dialog )
• https://chat.openai.com fastest wayo to ask how to make changes

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