family-dashboard-code ▸ docs/siri-shortcuts/timer-shortcut.md
updated 2026-02-28

Timer Shortcut – Reliable Setup Guide (No 0-Second Timers)

This version avoids regex parsing and uses two direct questions, which is much more reliable with Siri.

Trigger flow: - You say: “Hey Siri, timer” - Siri asks: “What should the timer be called?” - Siri asks: “How many minutes?” - Shortcut posts duration_seconds = minutes * 60

Before You Start

You need: - Supabase Project URL - Supabase anon key

From Supabase Dashboard: 1. Open your project 2. Go to Settings > API 3. Copy Project URL 4. Copy anon public key

Build the Shortcut

Create a new shortcut named Timer.

1) Ask for timer label

  1. Add Ask for Input
  2. Type: Text
  3. Prompt: What should the timer be called?
  4. Rename this action output to timerName (optional but recommended)

2) Ask for minutes

  1. Add another Ask for Input
  2. Type: Number
  3. Prompt: How many minutes?
  4. Rename this output to minutesInput (optional)

3) Convert minutes to seconds

  1. Add Calculate
  2. Set calculation to: minutesInput x 60
  3. Rename output to durationSeconds (optional)

4) Save Supabase values

  1. Add Text action with your Project URL, rename to supabaseUrl
  2. Add Text action with your anon key, rename to anonKey

5) Build JSON body

  1. Add Text action with this exact template:
{"label":"[timerName]","duration_seconds":[durationSeconds],"created_by":"siri"}

In Shortcuts, insert timerName and durationSeconds as variables, not literal text.

6) POST to Supabase

  1. Add Get Contents of URL
  2. URL: [supabaseUrl]/rest/v1/timers
  3. Method: POST
  4. Headers: - apikey: [anonKey] - Authorization: Bearer [anonKey] - Content-Type: application/json
  5. Request Body: use the Text JSON from Step 14

7) Confirmation

  1. Add Show Result
  2. Text: [timerName] timer set

Critical Checks

Quick Test

  1. Run shortcut manually
  2. Name: Pasta
  3. Minutes: 10
  4. Confirm dashboard shows a live 10-minute countdown (not immediate Done)

Troubleshooting