Exams and timers

Two related features in one doc, because they live next to each other in the UI: an exam countdown that ticks down to a date you care about, and a timer widget that helps you actually sit down and work.

#Exams

The exam tracker turns "study for the midterm" into a real countdown. You add an exam, give it a date, and Notemage shows you how many days you have left.

Adding an exam {#exams}

Create a new exam with:

• Title — e.g. "Cell Biology midterm".
• Date — must be in the future.
• Notebook — link the exam to the notebook you're studying out of, so it's easy to jump straight from the countdown into the material.
• Reminders (optional) — pre-exam pings.

Exams sort by date, soonest first. Past exams drop off the list automatically.

Why link a notebook?

Linking a notebook means the exam card becomes a one-click jump into the right material — you don't have to dig through the dashboard to find what you should be studying for this deadline.

#Timer widget

The timer widget is a small floating panel with three modes you can switch between with a tab. State is preserved while you navigate around the app, so the timer keeps running while you read pages, drill flashcards, or chat with Mage.

Countdown {#countdown}

Set a target time in hours and minutes, hit start, and it counts down. Useful for fixed-length study blocks ("read for 45 minutes, then break").

Pomodoro {#pomodoro}

The classic Pomodoro technique built in. You set:

• Work duration — how long each focus block lasts.
• Break duration — how long your breaks are.

The widget cycles work → break → work → break and tracks how many sessions you've completed in the current sitting. A progress ring shows where you are in the current phase, and there's a clear visual difference between work and break states so you don't have to read the label.

Stopwatch {#stopwatch}

Just a stopwatch — start, pause, reset. Use it when you don't know in advance how long a task will take and you just want to know what it cost you when you're done.

#How they work together

A common loop:

1. Add the exam date — see the countdown shrinking on your dashboard.
2. Open the linked notebook — it's one click away from the exam card.
3. Hit Pomodoro — pick 25/5 or whatever rhythm works for you.
4. Study, take the break, repeat.

The streak system (streaks and achievements) tracks the actions you take during those Pomodoros, so it takes care of itself if you keep showing up.