tiny-tim

0.0.4 verified Fri May 01 auth: no javascript

A minimal, zero-dependency timer utility for Node.js and the browser. Current stable version 0.0.4 (unreleased release cadence). Tiny-tim provides a simple timer that returns elapsed time in configurable units (ms, s, m, h) with optional suffix. Its key differentiator is extreme small size (156 bytes minified) and simplicity, offering a single function that creates a reusable stopwatch. Compiled with babili for both ES6+ and CommonJS environments. No dependencies, suitable for lightweight instrumentation.

Common errors

error timer is not a function ↓

cause Importing as named import instead of default import in ESM.

fix

Use 'import timer from "tiny-tim"' instead of 'import { timer } from "tiny-tim"'.

error require(...).default is not a function ↓

cause Trying to access .default on CommonJS require result, which already returns the function.

fix

Use 'const timer = require("tiny-tim")' directly without .default.

error Cannot find module 'tiny-tim' ↓

cause Package not installed or missing from node_modules.

fix

Run 'npm install tiny-tim' in your project root.

Warnings

gotcha Timer function returns either a string (with suffix) or a number (without suffix). Developers may expect consistent types. ↓

fix Check the type of the returned value if relying on specific data type.

gotcha The timer is not paused or reset externally; calling the returned function stops the timer and returns the elapsed time. Subsequent calls return the same value (timer dead after first call). ↓

fix Recreate the timer for a new measurement; cannot restart an existing timer.

gotcha Units are single-letter strings. Using full words like 'seconds' will be treated as unrecognized unit, defaulting to milliseconds silently. ↓

fix Use only 'ms', 's', 'm', or 'h'.

gotcha No error thrown for invalid units; timer silently defaults to milliseconds. ↓

fix Validate unit string before passing to timer().

Install

npm install tiny-tim

yarn add tiny-tim

pnpm add tiny-tim

Imports

default
wrong
```
const timer = require('tiny-tim').default
```
correct
```
import timer from 'tiny-tim'
```
Default export is a function. ESM import works directly; CommonJS require returns the function itself, not a module with default property.
default
wrong
```
import { timer } from 'tiny-tim'
```
correct
```
const timer = require('tiny-tim')
```
CommonJS require returns the timer function directly. ESM default import matches this pattern.

Quickstart

Creates a reusable timer, demonstrates returning elapsed time with suffix as string and without suffix as number.

import timer from 'tiny-tim';

// Create a timer in seconds with suffix
const stopwatch = timer('s', true);

setTimeout(() => {
  const elapsed = stopwatch();
  console.log(elapsed); // '10s'
}, 10000);

// Reuse the same timer
setTimeout(() => {
  console.log(stopwatch()); // '15s'
}, 15000);

// Create timer in milliseconds without suffix
const msTimer = timer();
setTimeout(() => {
  console.log(msTimer()); // 1000 (number)
}, 1000);