Have you ever wondered if a Pomodoro timer could be more than just a countdown? I did, and here’s how I brought that idea to life…
A couple of weeks ago, I set out to create an exciting open-source project. Since the Pomodoro technique is part of my daily routine, I thought, “Why not build a Pomodoro timer app and share it on GitHub?”
But after checking out the existing apps, I noticed they all looked the same—plain interface, timer in the center, and that’s pretty much it. So I asked myself, what if my app could surprise users during each break with something a little more… unconventional?
Imagine this:
- A prompt to do 10 push-ups.
- A random "Would You Rather?" question.
- AI giving you a sarcastic roast.
- A pointless yet hilarious fact.
- A website that melts like ice cream.
- The whole page flipping upside down.
- A random riddle to solve.
- And for those long late-night work sessions, Ana de Armas from Blade Runner 2049 appears in the background, saying, “What a day… You look lonely, I can fix that.” 😆
In essence: fun, delightful chaos.
I got to work right away, designing the app in a retro pixel-art style and naming it PomoFox. Fortunately, the domain pomofox.com was free, so I snatched it up. I also created a cute fox mascot 🦊, added a Lofi music player, light/dark mode pixel art backgrounds, customizable timers, and a fun logo.
But as I progressed, I realized the app had shifted from chaotic to more of an aesthetic experience. And that’s when I decided to bring back the chaos—with a game! 🎮
Since “Pomodoro” means “tomato” in Italian and my app is PomoFox (Pomo = 🍅, Fox = 🦊), I created a game where a fox runs through the forest, dodging sword-wielding tomatoes 🍅⚔️. (I mean, it just made sense, right?)
I had never built a game before, but I dove in, learned along the way, and shipped it. You can play the game here: game.pomofox.com.
As a fan of open-source, I’ve also uploaded the code to GitHub: github.com/zibrahimov/fox-runner.
I shared the app on ProductHunt and Reddit, and the response has been fantastic 🚀. All of this was accomplished in just two weeks.
Moving forward, I’ll be adding even more creative features (and probably some more quirky 2D games) whenever inspiration hits. If you have any wild ideas for PomoFox, feel free to share them in the comments! 🚀🦊
What do you think of the project?
And if you’re new to the Pomodoro Technique, check out my blog post where I dive into how it works and my personal experience with it!
My Experience with Pomodoro Technique
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