Top Android Timer Libraries

Best Timer Libraries for Android

In the world of Android development, managing timers and delays can often be a source of frustration. Whether you need to run a task periodically, delay certain operations, or handle countdowns, implementing these functionalities from scratch can be complex and error-prone. Fortunately, there are several timer libraries available that simplify these tasks, making your life as a developer significantly easier.

In this tutorial, we'll explore some of the best timer libraries for Kotlin Android, including their installation, usage, features, and how they compare with each other.

Let's dive in!

1. Android-CountDownTimer

The Android-CountDownTimer library is a robust and easy-to-use timer library designed specifically for countdown tasks. It is built on top of Kotlin's coroutine system and aims to provide a straightforward interface for implementing countdown timers.

Features

  • Simple and intuitive API.

  • Built-in coroutine support.

  • Customizable timer duration.

  • Callbacks for timer start, tick, and finish events.

Installation

To use Android-CountDownTimer in your project, add the following dependency to your build.gradle file:. 

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.github.elye:android-countdown-timer:1.0.3'
}

Code Example

Here's an example of how to use the Android-CountDownTimer library:. 

import com.elyeproj.countdownmvp.timer.CountDownTimer
import com.elyeproj.countdownmvp.timer.CountDownTimerListener

class MyActivity : AppCompatActivity(), CountDownTimerListener {

    private lateinit var timer: CountDownTimer

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)

        timer = CountDownTimer(30000, 1000, this) // 30 seconds countdown with tick every second
        timer.start()
    }

    override fun onTick(millisUntilFinished: Long) {
        // Called every tick (every second in this case)
        textView.text = "Seconds remaining: ${millisUntilFinished / 1000}"
    }

    override fun onFinish() {
        // Called when the timer finishes
        textView.text = "Countdown finished"
    }
}

Explanation: .

  • This example demonstrates a 30-second countdown timer that updates the UI every second.
  • The CountDownTimer is initialized with the duration and interval.
  • Implementing CountDownTimerListener allows you to handle timer events (onTick and onFinish).

Comparison

Compared to other timer libraries, Android-CountDownTimer is very specific to countdown functionality. It excels in simplicity and directness for countdown scenarios but may not be as versatile for other timer tasks.

Android-CountDownTimer GitHub

2. Coroutines Timer (Coroutines-timer)

Coroutines-timer is a lightweight library built to leverage Kotlin Coroutines for time management. It provides functionalities for running tasks periodically or after a delay using coroutines, which are more efficient and concise compared to traditional handlers or alarm managers.

Features

  • Lightweight and efficient.

  • Built on top of Kotlin Coroutines.

  • Support for repeating tasks.

  • Easy to integrate and use.

Installation

Add the following dependency to your build.gradle file:. 

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.github.florent37:coroutines-timer:1.0.1'
}

Code Example

Here's how to use Coroutines-timer:. 

import com.github.florent37.timetools.Continuity
import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
import kotlinx.coroutines.Job
import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
import kotlinx.coroutines.runBlocking

class TimerExample : AppCompatActivity() {

    private var timerJob: Job? = null

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)

        timerJob = launchPeriodicAsync(1000L) { // 1 second interval
            // Code to execute periodically
            runOnUiThread {
                textView.text = "Timer tick: ${System.currentTimeMillis()}"
            }
        }
    }

    private fun launchPeriodicAsync(
        repeatMillis: Long,
        action: () -> Unit
    ): Job = GlobalScope.launch(Dispatchers.Main) {
        if (repeatMillis > 0) {
            Continuity.until {
                action()
                delay(repeatMillis)
            }
        }
    }

    override fun onDestroy() {
        super.onDestroy()
        timerJob?.cancel()
    }
}

Explanation:.

  • The launchPeriodicAsync function allows for a task to be executed periodically.
  • Continuity.until ensures the action is repeated until the coroutine is cancelled.
  • The UI is updated within the runOnUiThread block to ensure thread safety.

Comparison

Coroutines-timer is highly efficient and leverages Kotlin Coroutines, which makes it more suitable for complex timer tasks. It provides greater flexibility and power compared to simpler countdown libraries but requires an understanding of coroutines.

Coroutines-timer GitHub

3. Anko Commons (Deprecated but worth mentioning)

Anko is a Kotlin library which makes Android application development faster and easier. It includes a comprehensive set of utilities for various purposes, including timers. Although it is deprecated, many legacy projects still use it efficiently for timer tasks.

Features

  • Simplified timer creation.

  • Use of lambdas for cleaner code.

  • Integration with the rest of Anko's utilities.

Installation

Anko Commons is no longer maintained, but for projects still using it, the dependency can be added:. 

dependencies {
    implementation "org.jetbrains.anko:anko-commons:0.10.8"
}

Code Example

Example of using Anko's timer utility:. 

import org.jetbrains.anko.doAsync
import org.jetbrains.anko.uiThread

class TimerExample : AppCompatActivity() {

    override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState)
        setContentView(R.layout.activity_main)

        doAsync {
            Thread.sleep(1000) // 1 second delay
            uiThread {
                textView.text = "Timer tick after 1 second"
            }
        }
    }
}

Explanation:.

  • doAsync is used to perform background operations.
  • uiThread updates the UI safely after the sleep delay.

Comparison

Given its deprecation, Anko's utilities, including timer functionality, should be replaced with modern libraries. It offers a simple API but lacks the support and updates that other libraries provide. New projects should consider more current solutions like Kotlin Coroutines.

Anko GitHub

Points

  • Android-CountDownTimer is ideal for countdown-specific tasks with its simple API.
  • Coroutines-timer is more versatile and robust, suitable for a wide range of timer functionalities leveraging Kotlin Coroutines.
  • Anko is deprecated but provides a quick solution for legacy projects.