Start Timer
timer_startStart millisecond-precision stopwatches or countdowns. Name timers after tasks, launch simultaneous races, and receive live announcements.
Instructions
Start a millisecond-precision stopwatch (or countdown) on the TimerMCP server.
The server stamps the start on a MONOTONIC nanosecond clock the instant this call arrives. Elapsed time is computed server-side as stop-stamp minus start-stamp, so the constant part of the pipeline delay (user → Claude → server) cancels out between start and stop — only the difference in latency between the two calls can leak in.
Args:
name (string, default "main"): Timer name. NAME IT AFTER THE TASK — when the user says what they are working on ("start a timer for the auth refactor"), use that as the name ("auth refactor") so their session log reads like a work journal. Pass a comma-separated list (e.g. "alice,bob") to start several timers on the SAME nanosecond — race mode.
target_ms (number, optional): Turns the run into a countdown (Pomodoro, rest interval, speedrun target). Stop reports over/under.
announcer ('hype'|'zen'|'sergeant'|'sports'|'minimal', optional): Voice for this run's announcements. Defaults to configured style.
start_offset_ms (number, optional): Milliseconds subtracted from the final elapsed to bias out start-side latency. Defaults to configured value (0).
Returns: { started: [{name, elapsed_ms, started_wall, target_ms?}], announcement, dashboard_url }
IMPORTANT: Relay the 'announcement' line to the user with matching energy — you are the track announcer. Mention the dashboard_url the first time so they can put the live wall display on a second screen.
Errors: fails if a timer with the same name is already running (stop or cancel it first, or pick another name).
Input Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| name | No | Timer name; comma-separate for a simultaneous race start, e.g. "me,rival" | main |
| announcer | No | Announcement personality for this run | |
| target_ms | No | Optional countdown target in ms (e.g. 1500000 for a 25-min Pomodoro) | |
| start_offset_ms | No | Latency handicap subtracted from the final time (start side) |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| started | Yes | ||
| announcement | Yes | ||
| dashboard_url | Yes |