These are two very simple web apps I built as a way to learn how Firebase websockets work.
They started as a quick afternoon distraction — I haven’t actually connected them to Firebase yet — but I’m putting them here so they don’t get lost on my laptop, and as part of my new “build in public” philosophy.
### 🧠 The Idea
When the page loads, it will eventually open a websocket connection to Firebase.
The user will get a **share URL** that can be opened on another device to view the timer or tally in real time.
- The **Timer** is essentially a very early prototype of [Stagetimer](https://stagetimer.io).
If you want a production-ready timer for podcasts or live events, use that instead — it’s fully featured and where the idea came from.
- The **Tally Counter** was designed with event security staff in mind.
Imagine two doors being monitored separately: each staff member can count people entering or leaving, and both see a **shared live total**.
Managers or other staff with the share link can also view the count in real time.
### 🔗 Try Them Out
- ⏱️ [Timer](https://34a.xyz/fun/timer)
- 🔢 [Tally Counter](https://34a.xyz/fun/tally)
### ⚡ What’s Next
Once I’ve gone through the Firebase websockets setup on something simple, I’ll use the same technique for adding new devices to **KeyClient** via QR code, or for handling **payment notifications**.
For example, when a user reaches the checkout page, the browser could open a websocket connection to the payment server — that way it’s notified immediately when payment completes, instead of constantly polling the server every second. Nothing revolutionary, but definitely more elegant.
They started as a quick afternoon distraction — I haven’t actually connected them to Firebase yet — but I’m putting them here so they don’t get lost on my laptop, and as part of my new “build in public” philosophy.
### 🧠 The Idea
When the page loads, it will eventually open a websocket connection to Firebase.
The user will get a **share URL** that can be opened on another device to view the timer or tally in real time.
- The **Timer** is essentially a very early prototype of [Stagetimer](https://stagetimer.io).
If you want a production-ready timer for podcasts or live events, use that instead — it’s fully featured and where the idea came from.
- The **Tally Counter** was designed with event security staff in mind.
Imagine two doors being monitored separately: each staff member can count people entering or leaving, and both see a **shared live total**.
Managers or other staff with the share link can also view the count in real time.
### 🔗 Try Them Out
- ⏱️ [Timer](https://34a.xyz/fun/timer)
- 🔢 [Tally Counter](https://34a.xyz/fun/tally)
### ⚡ What’s Next
Once I’ve gone through the Firebase websockets setup on something simple, I’ll use the same technique for adding new devices to **KeyClient** via QR code, or for handling **payment notifications**.
For example, when a user reaches the checkout page, the browser could open a websocket connection to the payment server — that way it’s notified immediately when payment completes, instead of constantly polling the server every second. Nothing revolutionary, but definitely more elegant.