Use a fixed-width font and leading zeros for less jank

[nvenegas]

Hi

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
I notice little movements of the timer's contents—aka "jank"—out of the corner of my eye which is distracting

Describe the solution you'd like

• Use a fixed width font, please, so that, e.g., 51" → 50" doesn't move around
• Use leading zeroes, please, so that, e.g., 10" → 9" doesn't move around (it would be 10" → 09")

Describe alternatives you've considered
Hiding the Timer window, but when screen sharing that would make it hard for all participants to be aware of our current interval

Cheers!

[karbassi]

I agree with this! I'll take a look at this.

[nvenegas]

@karbassi thanks for creating #86!

Not sure if y'all also agree with leading zeroes (top row without, bottom row with):

If so, here's the patch

diff --git a/Timer/MVClockView.swift b/Timer/MVClockView.swift
index c372470..8c63fbf 100644
--- a/Timer/MVClockView.swift
+++ b/Timer/MVClockView.swift
@@ -310,10 +310,10 @@ class MVClockView: NSControl {
     var suffixWidth: CGFloat = 0
 
     if (self.seconds < 60) {
-      minutesLabel.string = NSString(format: "%i\"", Int(self.seconds)) as String
+      minutesLabel.string = NSString(format: "%02i\"", Int(self.seconds)) as String
       suffixWidth = minutesLabelSecondsSuffixWidth
     } else {
-      minutesLabel.string = NSString(format: "%i'", Int(self.minutes)) as String
+      minutesLabel.string = NSString(format: "%02i'", Int(self.minutes)) as String
       suffixWidth = minutesLabelSuffixWidth
     }
     minutesLabel.sizeToFit()
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ class MVClockView: NSControl {
       secondsLabel.string = ""
     }
     else {
-      secondsLabel.string = NSString(format: "%i\"", Int(self.seconds.truncatingRemainder(dividingBy: 60))) as String
+      secondsLabel.string = NSString(format: "%02i\"", Int(self.seconds.truncatingRemainder(dividingBy: 60))) as String
       secondsLabel.sizeToFit()
 
       frame = secondsLabel.frame

[karbassi]

@nicolasv I personally don't think the zero-pad looks good. The change in digits happens once (10 minutes to 9 minutes) or at most twice (100 minutes to 99 minutes and 10 minutes to 9 minutes). To me, that's not that jarring.

Thoughts @michaelvillar @robinstewart?

[robinstewart]

I agree with @karbassi that the few times the number of digits changes is not worth adding the visual noise of a leading zero, by default. The clean visual design is an important part of what makes this app special.

But this would be a fine setting to go in the preferences for those like @nicolasv who want to turn it on.

[karbassi]

Zero-pad is related to #89

[nvenegas]

But this would be a fine setting to go in the preferences for those like @nicolasv who want to turn it on.

Using the newly released version (with fixed-width font, but no zero padding) — and I really like it! So I'm no longer requesting zero padding :)

[robinstewart]

@nicolasv Awesome! 😄

[karbassi]

I'm glad! @nicolasv