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name: timer-skill description: Set one-time delayed timers. Execute actions after a specified duration (seconds, minutes, hours, days). allowed-tools: timer metadata: author: machina version: "1.0" category: automation icon: "⏱️" color: "#10B981"

Timer Tool

Set one-time delayed execution timers.

How It Works

This skill provides instructions for the Timer tool node. Connect the Timer node to Zeenie's input-tools handle to enable timed delays.

timer Tool

Create a one-time timer that triggers after a specified duration.

Schema Fields

| Field | Type | Required | Description | |-------|------|----------|-------------| | duration | number | Yes | Time value for the delay | | unit | string | Yes | Time unit: "seconds", "minutes", "hours", "days" |

Time Units

| Unit | Range | Use Case | |------|-------|----------| | seconds | 1-3600 | Short delays, testing | | minutes | 1-1440 | Task reminders, short waits | | hours | 1-168 | Scheduled checks, delayed notifications | | days | 1-30 | Long-term reminders, follow-ups |

Examples

30 second delay:

{
  "duration": 30,
  "unit": "seconds"
}

5 minute reminder:

{
  "duration": 5,
  "unit": "minutes"
}

1 hour delay:

{
  "duration": 1,
  "unit": "hours"
}

2 day follow-up:

{
  "duration": 2,
  "unit": "days"
}

Response Format

Timer set:

{
  "success": true,
  "message": "Timer set for 5 minutes",
  "duration": 5,
  "unit": "minutes",
  "duration_seconds": 300,
  "trigger_at": "2025-01-30T12:05:00Z"
}

Timer triggered:

{
  "success": true,
  "triggered": true,
  "message": "Timer completed after 5 minutes",
  "duration": 5,
  "unit": "minutes"
}

Error Response

{
  "error": "Duration must be a positive number"
}

Use Cases

| Use Case | Duration | Unit | Description | |----------|----------|------|-------------| | Quick test | 10-30 | seconds | Testing workflow execution | | Reminder | 5-30 | minutes | Short-term reminders | | Rate limit | 60 | seconds | Wait between API calls | | Daily check | 24 | hours | Daily automation | | Follow-up | 2-7 | days | Long-term follow-ups |

Common Workflows

Delayed notification

1. Receive user request for reminder
2. Set timer with requested duration
3. Timer triggers → send notification

Rate-limited API calls

1. Make API call
2. Set 60-second timer
3. Timer triggers → make next call

Scheduled workflow

1. Set timer for desired delay
2. Timer triggers → execute workflow nodes

Integration with Workflow

When used as a trigger node in a workflow:

1. Deploy the workflow
2. Timer countdown begins
3. After duration, downstream nodes execute

When used as AI tool:

1. Agent decides to set timer
2. Timer is scheduled
3. Agent can proceed with other work
4. Notification when timer triggers

Best Practices

1. Use appropriate units: Don't use 3600 seconds when 1 hour is clearer
2. Consider time zones: Timers use server time
3. Account for drift: Long timers may have slight variance
4. Test short first: Start with seconds before days
5. Chain timers carefully: Avoid infinite loops

Limitations

• Timers are not persistent across server restarts
• Maximum practical delay depends on server uptime
• Timers are one-time (use cron for recurring)

Setup Requirements

1. Connect the Timer node to Zeenie's input-tools handle
2. For workflow triggers, connect Timer as the first node
3. Deploy workflow to activate timer