StopWatch using Python

In this article, you’ll learn how can we create a StopWatch using Python.

For this, we need the tkinter module and Datetime module.

Tkinter is the standard GUI library for Python. Python when combined with Tkinter provides a fast and easy way to create GUI applications.

Datetime module supplies classes to work with date and time. These classes provide a number of functions to deal with dates, times, and time intervals.

To install tkinter module python, type the below command in your terminal–

pip install tkinter 

To install datetime module python, type the below command in your terminal–

pip install datetime

Source Code With Comments

# Python program to illustrate a stop watch
import tkinter as Tkinter
from datetime import datetime

counter=66600
running=False

def counter_label(label):
    def count():
        if running:
            global counter

            # To manage the initial delay.
            if counter==66600:
                display="Starting..."
            else:
                tt=datetime.fromtimestamp(counter)
                string=tt.strftime("%H:%M:%S")
                display=string

            label['text']=display
            label.after(1000, count)
            counter+=1

    # Triggering the start of the counter.
    count()

# start function of the stopwatch
def Start(label):
    global running
    running=True
    counter_label(label)
    start['state']='disabled'
    stop['state']='normal'
    reset['state']='normal'

# Stop function of the stopwatch
def Stop():
    global running
    start['state']='normal'
    stop['state']='disabled'
    reset['state']='normal'
    running=False

# Reset function of the stopwatch
def Reset(label):
    global counter
    counter=66600

    # If rest is pressed after pressing stop.
    if running == False:
        reset['state']='disabled'
        label['text']='Welcome!'

    # If reset is pressed while the stopwatch is running.
    else:
        label['text']='Starting...'
root=Tkinter.Tk()
root.title("Stopwatch")
root.iconbitmap("stopwatch.ico")
root.configure(bg="#FFE873")
# Fixing the window size.
root.minsize(width=250,height=70)
label=Tkinter.Label(root,text="Welcome!",fg="#4B8BBE",bg="#FFE873",font="Verdana 30 bold")
label.pack()
f=Tkinter.Frame(root)
start=Tkinter.Button(f,text='Start',width=6,command=lambda:Start(label))
stop=Tkinter.Button(f,text='Stop',width=6,state='disabled',command=Stop)
reset=Tkinter.Button(f,text='Reset',width=6,state='disabled',command=lambda:Reset(label))
f.pack(anchor='center',pady=5)
start.pack(side="left")
stop.pack(side="left")
reset.pack(side="left")
root.mainloop()

Explanation of the Python stopwatch code

Key Components:

• Imports:
  • tkinter: For creating the GUI.
  • datetime: For handling time calculations.
• Global Variables:
  • counter: Stores the elapsed time in milliseconds.
  • running: A boolean flag to track whether the stopwatch is running.
• Functions:
  • counter_label:
    • Updates the displayed time on the label every second.
    • Handles the initial “Starting…” message.
  • Start:
    • Initiates the stopwatch (sets running to True).
    • Enables/disables buttons appropriately.
  • Stop:
    • Pauses the stopwatch (sets running to False).
    • Enables/disables buttons appropriately.
  • Reset:
    • Resets the counter and updates the display.
    • Handles button state changes based on the running status.
• GUI Setup:
  • Creates the main window and sets its title and background color.
  • Creates the label to display the time.
  • Creates the “Start”, “Stop”, and “Reset” buttons.
  • Arranges the elements on the window.
• Event Loop:
  • Starts the mainloop to handle user interactions (button clicks) and update the GUI.

Key Points:

• The counter_label function is the core of the timekeeping mechanism, using after to schedule updates.
• The Start, Stop, and Reset functions manage the state of the stopwatch and the GUI elements.
• The datetime module is used to convert the counter value into a human-readable time format (HH:MM:SS).

Output of the StopWatch using Python

So, here is our StopWatch. Simple isn’t it?? This is how we have successfully done with the ‘StopWatch using Python’. I hope the ‘Tkinter and DateTime library is now more clear to you and don’t forget to try this code once!!

You can play around with the library, explore more features and even customize it further.

ThankYou Pythoner’s!!!

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