Couldn't Find the Right Timer? Build One
There is no shortage of Pomodoro timers. You can download countless apps for your phone, install browser extensions, or buy dedicated timers for your desk. The problem is that not all of them fit the way you work.
GitHub user einoko ran into exactly that issue. Rather than settling for an existing solution, he decided to build his own. The result is Tomato32, a Pomodoro timer designed for the Waveshare ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-3.49 development board.
The project combines a touchscreen interface, customizable timer profiles, and a polished user interface into a dedicated productivity device that sits somewhere between a DIY project and a finished consumer product.
Built Around an ESP32-S3
Tomato32 runs on Waveshare's ESP32-S3-Touch-LCD-3.49 board, which combines Espressif's ESP32-S3 microcontroller with a 3.49-inch touchscreen display.
The user interface is built with LVGL, a graphics library that has become increasingly popular for embedded displays. From the appearance, it's clear that considerable effort went into the presentation. Rather than resembling a simple timer application, the interface feels more like something you would expect to find on a commercial device.
Users can choose from three preset timer profiles, each with adjustable durations for focus sessions, short breaks, long breaks, and the number of work sessions completed before a long break is triggered.
Make It Your Own
One feature that helps Tomato32 stand out is its support for custom backgrounds. Users can embed their own images into the firmware and assign them to specific timer profiles, themes, or both. Different backgrounds can be displayed depending on whether the device is operating in light mode or dark mode.
It's a small detail, but it gives the timer a level of personalization that many dedicated productivity devices lack.
Additional settings allow users to tailor the timer to their workflow rather than forcing them into a rigid interpretation of the Pomodoro technique.
More Than Just a Countdown
The project also includes a statistics screen that tracks focused work sessions over time.
To support daily statistics, Tomato32 can optionally connect to Wi-Fi and synchronize its clock using NTP. Interestingly, network access isn't required for the timer to function. The Wi-Fi connection is only used to keep track of the current date and ensure daily statistics reset correctly at midnight.
That decision keeps the project focused on its primary purpose while avoiding unnecessary dependencies.
A Nice Example of Purpose-Built Hardware
Many productivity tools end up buried inside a smartphone alongside notifications, messages, and social media apps. Dedicated devices avoid that problem by focusing on a single task.
That's part of the appeal of projects like Tomato32. It takes readily available hardware, adds thoughtfully designed software, and turns it into a device with a clear purpose.
If you've ever looked at a Pomodoro timer and thought, "I wish it worked a little differently," Tomato32 serves as a reminder that building your own version is always an option.