Timer Node Best Practices

[alex_geld]

Hi,

I was using some timers in my project and was wondering about what the best practices are revolving around them. I found myself using them in two different ways, which I’ll post as little snippets here:

if Input.is_action_pressed("Shoot") && can_shoot:
	can_shoot = false
	$ShotTimer.start()
	#DoShootingStuff

func _on_timer_timeout():  #Catching the timer signal
	can_shoot = true

And the other way is

func hit():
	if $TimerOne.is_stopped():
		$TimerOne.start()  #0.5s timer
		$TimerTwo.start()  #0.1s timer
		#Do A Thing
	elif $TimerTwo.is_stopped():   #Thing 1 is on cooldown, do Thing 2?
		$TimerTwo.start()  #0.1s timer
		#Do A Different Thing
	else:         #Both Things are on cooldown, do nothing
		pass

Is using one of these strategies always better than the other or are there circumstances where it can be different?

[Moreus]

and there’s tween too

[gertkeno]

@alex_geld

func hit():
	if $TimerOne.is_stopped():
		$TimerOne.start()  #0.5s timer
		$TimerTwo.start()  #0.1s timer
		#Do A Thing
	elif $TimerTwo.is_stopped():   #Thing 1 is on cooldown, do Thing 2?
		$TimerTwo.start()  #0.1s timer
		#Do A Different Thing
	else:         #Both Things are on cooldown, do nothing
		pass

This reduces variables, if you need to interrupt the can_shoot you do not have to remember to stop the timer too. Make sure to name your timers aptly.