Ecore provides timers, which schedule events that are executed later at a specific time. The event can occur once or several times at specific intervals.

• To create and destroy a timer
  • To create a timer
  • To delete the timer
• To manage a timer
  • To change the timer's interval
  • To get the timer's pending time
  • To delay the timer's next occurrence
  • To pause the currently running timer
  • To query the current value of the defined timer infrastructure precision

• Ecore Timer functions API
• Ecore Timers Example

A timer callback prototype looks like the my_timed_cb() callback function. This function receives data from the application, and returns a Boolean value to specify whether it is called again or completed. The following macros are also provided:

• ECORE_CALLBACK_RENEW: the function is called again after the timeout.
• ECORE_CALLBACK_CANCEL: the function is not called again, Ecore destroys automatically everything associated with the timer.

Use the ecore_timer_add() function. The interval, specified in seconds, indicates when the given function is called, and receives the specified data as a parameter. It returns an Ecore_Timer object.

In the following example, the my_timed_cb() function is run after 2 seconds and it receives my_data. It is renewed while its count variable value is under 5, and stops after that.

Eina_Bool my_timed_cb(void *data)
{
   static int count = 0;
   count++;
 
   if (count < 5)
      return ECORE_CALLBACK_RENEW;
 
   return ECORE_CALLBACK_CANCEL;
}
ecore_timer_add(2.0, my_timed_cb, my_data);

Use the ecore_timer_del() function. The timer to delete must still be running, that is, it has not returned a false value. If the timer is not running, the function cannot be called.

Use the ecore_timer_interval_set() function. The interval is specified in seconds. If set during a timer call, this affects the next interval. Use the ecore_timer_interval_get() function to get the timer's current interval.

Use the ecore_timer_pending_get() function.

Use the ecore_timer_delay() function. The function adds the specified time to the current interval. It does not change the future occurrences' interval. You can also reset the current interval to its full value by using the ecore_timer_reset() function.

Use the ecore_timer_freeze() function. The remaining time is saved and used again when the timer is resumed with the ecore_timer_thaw() function.

Use the ecore_timer_precision_get() function. A higher delay means that more timers can be run together. It diminishes the need to use system wake-ups and thus lowers the power consumption.

To set the precision, use the ecore_timer_precision_set() function. This sets the precision for all timers. For example, there are 2 timers, one that expires in 2.0 seconds and another that expires in 2.1 seconds. If the precision is set to 0.1 seconds, Ecore requests the next expiration to happen in 2.1 seconds and runs both callbacks at once, instead of one at 2.0 seconds and the other one 0.1 seconds later. However, if there is no timer expiring in 2.1 seconds, the timeout is at the minimum interval, 2 seconds.