C++ Mini Projects: Stopwatch Application
Hey guys today I'm going to be teaching you how to build this stopwatch application all by yourself using C++. The program simulates a basic stopwatch for the user. User is able to start, stop or reset the stopwatch. Time elapsed will be displaying on screen as seconds. Isn't that fun? Then let's go build it!
Skills Used
For easy viewing and interaction a simple main menu is created
Functions for time calculation
Chrono is the function used to measure time that has elapsed
Loops are used for input from user and
repeated menu system
Conditional statements deal with user choices
The code to build the desired project
Code..
#include
#include
#include
using namespace std;
using namespace chrono;
// Stopwatch class
class Stopwatch {
private:
steady_clock::time_point startTime;
steady_clock::time_point endTime;
bool running;
duration elapsed;
public:
// Constructor
Stopwatch() : running(false), elapsed(0) {}
// Start the stopwatch
void start() {
if (!running) {
running = true;
startTime = steady_clock::now();
cout << "Stopwatch started.\n";
} else {
cout << "Stopwatch is already running!\n";
}
}
// Stop the stopwatch
void stop() {
if (running) {
endTime = steady_clock::now();
elapsed += endTime - startTime;
running = false;
cout << "Stopwatch stopped.\n";
} else {
cout << "Stopwatch is not running!\n";
}
}
// Reset the stopwatch
void reset() {
running = false;
elapsed = duration<double>(0);
cout << "Stopwatch reset.\n";
}
// Display elapsed time
void display() const {
duration<double> totalElapsed = elapsed;
if (running) {
totalElapsed += steady_clock::now() - startTime;
}
cout << "Elapsed time: " << totalElapsed.count() << " seconds.\n";
}
};
// Main function
int main() {
Stopwatch stopwatch;
int choice;
do {
cout << "\nStopwatch Application\n";
cout << "1. Start Stopwatch\n";
cout << "2. Stop Stopwatch\n";
cout << "3. Reset Stopwatch\n";
cout << "4. Display Elapsed Time\n";
cout << "5. Exit\n";
cout << "Enter your choice: ";
cin >> choice;
switch (choice) {
case 1:
stopwatch.start();
break;
case 2:
stopwatch.stop();
break;
case 3:
stopwatch.reset();
break;
case 4:
stopwatch.display();
break;
case 5:
cout << "Exiting the program. Goodbye!\n";
break;
default:
cout << "Invalid choice. Please try again.\n";
}
// Delay for a smoother user experience
this_thread::sleep_for(milliseconds(500));
} while (choice != 5);
return 0;
}
Explanation..
Start the stopwatch
As the stopwatch begins, current time will be recorded as
steady_clock::now()
If stopwatch has already been running, this will prevent restarting.
Stopping...
At the time of stopping the time elapsed will be calculated as difference between elapsed time and current time . This time will then be added to total.
Resetting....
This deletes all times that were previously recorded and then resets the stopwatch to zero
Displaying the elapsed time...
This program calculates the elapsed time automatically in two ways
-
The stopwatch calculates the time till the current second ,if stopwatch is running.
-
It will show elapsed time if it is stopped
Sample of Running the Program
Stopwatch Application
- Start Stopwatch
- Stop Stopwatch
- Reset Stopwatch
- Display Elapsed Time
- Exit
Enter your choice:
Start the stopwatch
Enter your choice: 1
Stopwatch started.
Display elapsed time..
Enter your choice: 4
Elapsed time: 5.23 seconds.
Stop the stopwatch..
Enter your choice: 2
Stopwatch stopped.
Reset the stopwatch...
Enter your choice: 3
Stopwatch reset.
Real World Examples:
A stopwatch may seem like a simple program, but it has many real-world applications.
Sports Timing:
Trainers and athletes use stopwatches to measure swim laps, run times, or cycle speeds. By integrating the stopwatch into a sports app, a coach can track progress and compare performances.
Example:
A coach developed a C++-based project to log time for every sprint. Later, the data was analyzed to improve and adjust strategies.
Industrial Usage for Task Timing:
Manufacturers use stopwatch programs for task completion in quality assurance.
Example:
A production supervisor in an industry used such an app to trace assembly line speeds. It helped identify bottlenecks.
Online Study and Exam Sessions:
Many teachers and students utilize digital stopwatch apps to track study sessions or time-bound exams. A stopwatch created in C++ can easily be integrated into educational tools for better time management.
Example:
A virtual education platform added a stopwatch app to help students effectively manage time during exams and tests.
Software Testing:
Software developers use stopwatch apps for benchmarking code snippets. This helps optimize performance.
Example:
A developer used a stopwatch app to test sorting algorithms and improve efficiency.
Case Study: The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a popular time management method where users work for 25 minutes and take a 5-minute break. Teachers, professionals, and students use this technique to boost productivity.
A C++-based stopwatch can be modified to function as a Pomodoro timer. The stopwatch class can be adapted to include predefined time intervals, such as a 25-minute work session followed by a 5-minute break. An alert or message can be printed after each session.
Tracking Sessions for Productivity Analysis:
A student group used a stopwatch app for a month and noticed a 30% increase in productivity.
Problem-Solving Approaches:
Dealing with Accuracy Issues:
Challenge: Stopwatch inconsistency due to processing delays.
Solution: Using Chrono’s clock ensures precision as it remains unaffected by system clock changes.
Preventing Multiple Starts:
Challenge: Restarting the stopwatch multiple times causes incorrect elapsed time.
Solution: Implement a flag to prevent the clock from restarting unnecessarily.
Displaying Time in Hours, Minutes, and Seconds:
Challenge: The current version only shows time in seconds.
Solution: Modify the display function to format time in hh:mm:ss using integer division and modulo operations.
Thanks for reading the blog and I will see you next time!
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