The problem
The App Store has plenty of pomodoro timers. Many turn focus into another system to manage, with streaks, accounts, and reminders. I wanted a timer that asked for less attention, not more.
I built takt. during the seven months I spent shipping Ripple. It gave me a break from a much larger product and a chance to finish one small idea well.
About
takt. is a pomodoro timer without streaks, leaderboards, or an account to maintain. Choose a focus interval, start the timer, and take a break when it ends.
The interface stays deliberately spare so there is little to configure before starting.
Screens
How it works
Set your timer
Choose the standard 25-minute session or set a duration that works for you.
Do the work
Start the timer and focus on the task. The interface stays out of the way while it runs.
Take a break
When the timer ends, step away for a few minutes before starting another session.
Key decisions
Leave out streaks, stats, and accounts
Braun products and Dieter Rams influenced the visual direction, especially the idea of using as little design as possible. The result is one timer, large type, and very little setup. Streaks, stats, and accounts would have pulled the product away from that purpose, so I left them out.
Charge new users, grandfather the old ones
takt. recently moved to a subscription for new users. Everyone who downloaded it before the change keeps full access for life, free. Early users took a chance on the app; they shouldn't get a bill for it later.
Results
- Every early user grandfathered
- when the subscription was introduced. The app still gets steady downloads, though it does not have a paying subscriber yet.
Get it
takt is available on the App Store. New users can subscribe; people who downloaded it before the pricing change keep full access.