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CooldownWatch  Popular! (More than 5000 hits)

Version: 1.16a
by: Tifi [More]

Bad news, everyone: I quit WoW, my account expires on August 11th. So tick that "Load out of date AddOns" check box and hope for the best!
I just wanted to say thanks for using my AddOns and for all the support, feedback, bug reports, and kind words. Very much appreciated. Bye!


Description
Displays cooldowns of your spells, items or equipment slots. Every cooldown has an icon, the time left, an optional bar, and an optional, user-defined label ("trinket 1" for example).
I wrote this AddOn because I wanted to get rid of all those action buttons, taking up a big part of my screen. I use hotkeys for almost every spell I have, so I don't need buttons. After I hid all those buttons, I was missing two things: Range detection and cooldowns. This AddOn takes care of the cooldown part.

Features
- Speed: I have a slow computer, and I like optimizing code, so I designed the addon to be as fast as possible.
- Watches cooldowns of spells, items or equipment slots
- Fixed, user-defined order: I don't want my cooldowns sorted by time. If I need to know the cooldown of Taunt, I don't want to spend time looking for it, I need it to always be in the same place.
- Disable the bars: If you don't like bars (or want to make the addon run even faster), you can disable them. CooldownWatch will only display the icon and the time left.
- Auto-hide (optional): Hides the cooldown frame if the ability or item is off cooldown to save screen real estate.
- Customizable layout: You can change the bar texture, bar colors, the text color, and the font. Some of these features require SharedMediaLib/SharedMedia-1.0 (not included). Try the addon SharedMedia if you're interested.
You can also change the list layout, i.e. the order of the cooldowns in the list. The default is top to bottom, available options are bottom->top, left->right, right->left.
- Drag-and-drop interface: See below. Or just try it out.

Usage
Enter /cooldownwatch or /cw to toggle the config mode. A small anchor frame is visible if you're in config mode. CooldownWatch automatically activates the config mode if it runs for the first time on a toon. In config mode you can do the following:
Move the cooldown frames: Drag the anchor.
Add a cooldown: Drag and drop a spell or item to the anchor frame to add it at the end of the list.
Or drop it on another cooldown to insert it at that position, and use that cooldown's settings.
Note: If you drag an item from your bags, the item itself will be added as the cooldown. If you drag an item from your character frame, the equipment slot it came from will be watched. That way, you can watch for example the cooldowns of the trinkets you're currently wearing.
Remove a cooldown: Middle click the cooldown frame.
Reorder cooldowns: Drag the cooldown frame.
Access cooldown specific options: Right-click the cooldown frame.
Access global options: Right-click the anchor frame.

IMPORTANT: While you're in config mode, cooldowns won't get updated. You have to leave config mode in order to make cooldowns work.

Things you might be missing (ToDo list)
- Currently there's only one list of cooldowns. Maybe I will add multiple lists someday.

Features CooldownWatch doesn't have, and never will (NoDo list)
- Cooldowns of other players or mobs.
- Automatically add cooldowns.
- Automatic sorting.
- You can't change the format or graining of the time displayed. For example if the cooldown is 2h34m11s, CooldownWatch will display 3h (which means 3h or less) until it's less than 120m. At that point of time it will switch to minutes, and at less than 120s it will display seconds. It's unlikely that I'm going to change this.
- Localization of the config menus. I don't see a real need.

Bugs/Issues
- Drag and drop doesn't work for pet spells, not sure why they disabled this in WoW. Pet spells are not supported at the moment.
- If one spell triggers multiple cooldowns, the results may be unexpected, because CooldownWatch tries to avoid scanning all watched spell cooldowns. Let's say you're watching Shield Bash and Pummel: If you use Pummel, only the cooldown frame of Pummel will be updated. However, if you hide and show the interface (Alt-Z), or reload the UI, or exit config mode, CooldownWatch has to scan all watched cooldowns, and will detect that Shield Bash is on cooldown, too. There's no way for CooldownWatch to know that multiple spells share the same cooldown, unless I add all those combinations manually. Which I'm not going to do.

Notes
The main feature of CooldownWatch is speed. Cooldowns have to use OnUpdate code, which is executed in every frame, i.e. every time WoW redraws the screen.
Most timer addons update the text that displays the time left in every frame. The default interface also does this if you enable the display of buff/debuff duration. Let's say a cooldown has 15 minutes left, so for the next few minutes, the text will only change once per minute. Let's say you have a frame rate of 15fps, that's 900 frames per minute. That means 899 out of 900 times, updating the text is just wasting CPU, because the text won't change anyways. CooldownWatch, on the other hand, only updates the text when it's needed.
Another example: Let's say the cooldown bar has a width of 90 pixels. Again, other cooldown addons would update this bar every frame. For longer cooldowns, most of these updates won't actually change the bar, just waste CPU. It's 90 pixels, so the bar only needs 90 updates, which is exactly what CooldownWatch will do.
One more example: There's an option in CooldownWatch to disable the bar of a cooldown. Most addons would work like this: In every frame they would check if the cooldown has a bar, and update it if there is one. Checking for that bar is CPU overhead; the addon (and your frame rate) becomes a little slower, just because hiding the bar is optional. Most addons look up options in their database, which requires multiple table lookups. Now image you're a programmer. You would know beforehand if you want a bar or not. Since you're a programmer, you can write the code accordingly; you don't need to check if there's a bar or not, you just write the code to update the bar if there is one, or leave that code out, if there is no bar. CooldownWatch works exactly like this, it actually writes the code itself. That way, CooldownWatch can have optional features, without spending time on these checks.

As a small test, I compared CooldownWatch to the addons "Cooldown Timer Bars" and "Cooldown Bars 2.0" from curse. I configured them all to have bars of size 90x18. Then I triggered four cooldowns, and measured the CPU times for each addon with WoW's CPU profiling feature for 30s while all four cooldowns were still running.
CooldownBars 257.6ms
CooldownTimers2 99.2ms
CooldownWatch 15.4ms

1.16a
Bugfix: Item and equipment slot cooldowns cannot be unlearned anymore (e.g. Managems).
Bugfix: CooldownWatchConfig is not always loaded, only when entering config mode.
Bugfix: After learning a tracked cooldown talent, the frame is now initialized properly (auto-hide).

1.16
Added setting to adjust the spacing between bars.
Bugfix: The icon height equals the frame's height now.

1.15
Learning/unlearning talents will now show/hide the corresponding cooldown frames.
Bugfix: Unlearned spells are now initialized properly as collapsed.
TOC interface version bump to 3.1.

1.14b
New: Added option to toggle the Blizzard default icon border.

1.14a
Bugfix: If an ability comes off cooldown earlier (Readiness, Sword&Board, etc), the corresponding frame now resets properly.

1.14
New: The layout being mirrored (icons left, bars shrink from left to right)
is now optional, but still the default.

1.13
Bugfix: If the computer was running for more than 10 days, the addon would
stop working.

1.12
New slash command options:
/cw debug <level>: Sets the debug level, 3 is a good start.
/cw debug: Disables debugging.
/cw log: Shows an ugly frame to copy the debug output.
Ignore cooldowns that are triggered but not started (like Feign Death, Inner Focus, etc).

1.11
If the texture or font was not found (for example because the addon providing
it was deleted), revert do default.
Bugfix: If a cooldown started before the computer was booted, the remaining
time displayed was wrong. (Untested on Mac and Linux).
Bugfix: Faerie Fire (Feral) should work now.

1.10
Bugfix: Spells with a cooldown that doesn't start immediately should work
correctly now (like Inner Focus, but also potions in combat).

1.9
Fixed stuff for 3.0.
.toc version bump.
Added LibSharedMedia-3.0 as an optional dependency.
Removed Dongle.
Bugfix: If the addon was disabled, the anchor's position was reset.
Optional Files (0)


Post A Reply Comment Options
Unread 12-17-08, 11:02 AM  
Ceromus
A Kobold Labourer
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Forum posts: 1
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Like the mod

I like this mod im very glad it exists, I don't know whats wrong with me but coming from cooldowntimers2 im having serious problems adjusting. Cooldowntimers2 unfortunately doesn't work anymore bugs out for me in BGs badly.

I don't know what it is but its been 2 weeks now and I can't adjust. I think its the colors and the automatic sorting. I know you said you're not going to put in autosorting but can you make it so the colors of the bars change based on how much time is left? Maybe a style change option to make it look like cooldowntimers2?

Im also looking forward to the multiple lists feature some day.
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Unread 12-20-08, 01:03 PM  
Tyrrael
A Murloc Raider
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Re: Like the mod

Damn, just tried it out, only cooldowns.

Any chance you could implement debuff timer tracking? (e.g. dots up on your target)

And displaying tenths of a second?

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Unread 12-21-08, 05:22 AM  
Tifi
A Murloc Raider
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Originally posted by Ceromus
I know you said you're not going to put in autosorting but can you make it so the colors of the bars change based on how much time is left?
Never gonna happen.
Originally posted by Tyrrael
Any chance you could implement debuff timer tracking? (e.g. dots up on your target)

And displaying tenths of a second?
Never gonna happen.
You guys might want to have a look at DoTimer. It has all the features you're looking for, but uses a lot more CPU than CooldownWatch.
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Unread 12-31-08, 04:19 PM  
Dralmoo
A Murloc Raider
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Great addon, I'd like to throw in another vote for a mirror option - for whatever reason I'd really prefer the bars moving right to left.
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Unread 01-02-09, 07:26 AM  
Tifi
A Murloc Raider
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Ok I made the mirrored layout optional. When it's not mirrored, and the bars are hidden, this looks awkward though.
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Unread 01-02-09, 07:04 PM  
Abacinate
A Kobold Labourer

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Size

never mind im dumb

but i will ask...any chance of you setting it up so i can have a different "bar" of
cooldowns for the forms im in ? or maybe a second set ?
Last edited by Abacinate : 01-02-09 at 07:07 PM.
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Unread 01-06-09, 03:57 AM  
bitechu
A Murloc Raider

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Hey, im having fun with this addon, i have my buffs set up for bars so this fits in great.

BTW, what are you using for your range indicator? I do the same thing on my warlock that i have been playing forever.
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Unread 01-06-09, 08:58 AM  
Tifi
A Murloc Raider
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Originally posted by bitechu
BTW, what are you using for your range indicator? I do the same thing on my warlock that i have been playing forever. [/b]
Simple macros like
Code:
#showtooltip [help] Intervene; Charge
On my priest I abuse my set-focus-macro as the range indicator
Code:
#showtooltip Mind Flay
/focus
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Unread 01-16-09, 05:07 PM  
wazooda
A Kobold Labourer

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First... fantastic addon. Under the theory that less is more, the minimalist display is just great.

Not sure if this is possible with this addon, but one thing that would be helpful to be is an indication that the ability I want is actually usable when off cooldown.

As a Prot warrior, I rely heavily of Shield Slam and Revenge. It is great having the bars right next to my toon so I can focus on my combat without having to look down to see if the ability is off cooldown. However, even though off cooldown, I might currently not have enough rage to trigger the ability.

Any way with the addon to have an icon flash etc. to show that not only is it off cooldown, but actually usable at this time.

Thanks again!
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Unread 01-17-09, 06:41 AM  
Andeh
A Wyrmkin Dreamwalker

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This addon currently doesn't work with my rogue.
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Unread 01-17-09, 04:04 PM  
Tifi
A Murloc Raider
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Originally posted by wazooda
First... fantastic addon. Under the theory that less is more, the minimalist display is just great.

Not sure if this is possible with this addon, but one thing that would be helpful to be is an indication that the ability I want is actually usable when off cooldown.
...
I'm sorry but that's beyond the scope of this addon.
I use an (unpublished) addon that implements a priority list, which also checks if the ability is usable. I don't know why there are no other addons like that, it's the most useful addon I have on my warrior. (Not localized, german only, and it would be a nightmare to maintain in its current state, so I won't release it.) The closest I could find is WarriorAutoRot.

Originally posted by Andeh
This addon currently doesn't work with my rogue.
Well it works with my rogue.
Last edited by Tifi : 01-17-09 at 04:09 PM.
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Unread 01-17-09, 06:52 PM  
wazooda
A Kobold Labourer

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Originally posted by Tifi
I'm sorry but that's beyond the scope of this addon.
I use an (unpublished) addon that implements a priority list, which also checks if the ability is usable. I don't know why there are no other addons like that, it's the most useful addon I have on my warrior. (Not localized, german only, and it would be a nightmare to maintain in its current state, so I won't release it.) The closest I could find is WarriorAutoRot.


Well it works with my rogue.
I appreciate the reply. I'll try out WarriorAutoRot and see how it is.

If you ever feel like adding a usability check to CoolDownWatch, you will have the best warrior addon period.
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Unread 01-23-09, 06:36 AM  
keats
A Kobold Labourer
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Dear Tifi!

First of all, awesome job on the addon, and also, from one programmer to the other, I'd like to commend you on your presence and helpfulness in this thread.

I also have a suggestion to make regarding the usability of the addon: I'd like to ask you to add the possibility to assign colors individually to each bar. My thinking goes like this: people using your addon will probably place it somewhere around the edge of the screen, so it doesn't interfere with the action in the world, and character movement. Individual color assignments would enable players to 'learn' the colors for each spell, and to cue in to whats on CD using peripheral vision, without the need to actually look at the addon to check each time.

Please consider this suggestion for a future update, and keep up the great work!
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Unread 01-23-09, 11:19 AM  
nouk
A Kobold Labourer

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Hi, I love your addon but I have a small request,

Could that be possible to show more precise cooldown text ?
I like to see if my shots CD is 1.5 sec, not just 1 or 2.

Another great thing would be to add a bar to watch GCD.

Sorry for my bad english : )
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Unread 01-26-09, 03:15 AM  
Tifi
A Murloc Raider
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Originally posted by keats
I also have a suggestion to make regarding the usability of the addon: I'd like to ask you to add the possibility to assign colors individually to each bar. My thinking goes like this: people using your addon will probably place it somewhere around the edge of the screen, so it doesn't interfere with the action in the world, and character movement. Individual color assignments would enable players to 'learn' the colors for each spell, and to cue in to whats on CD using peripheral vision, without the need to actually look at the addon to check each time.
Sounds like a good idea on paper, but I'm not yet sure if this would work, or when to use it. What cooldowns would you use it for? It would probably work best for auto-hide cooldowns. I'll try it out.

Edit: You can try it out yourself. To change the color of the 8th bar to blue, use the following script:
Code:
/run CooldownWatch.frame[8].statusbar:SetStatusBarColor(.4,.4,1,1)
To change the background color use
Code:
/run CooldownWatch.frame[8].statusbar:SetBackdropColor(.4,.4,1,.4)
The arguments are standard RGBA values (red, green, blue, alpha). To get the number for a bar, switch to config mode (/cw) and count from the top (the first cooldown is 1). Those changes will be overwritten when the UI is loaded.

I have to say it's kind of hard to find colors that you can actually identify using peripheral vision. As far as I know, the color receptors in the human eye are mostly located at the center of the retina, making it harder and harder to distinguish colors the further an object is away from your focus.

Originally posted by nouk
Could that be possible to show more precise cooldown text ?
I like to see if my shots CD is 1.5 sec, not just 1 or 2.

Another great thing would be to add a bar to watch GCD.
The time format is hard coded, and I don't think it's ever going to change. I assume you try to use this addon for rotation-level decision making? (E.g. decide between Explosive or Steady.) I'm afraid this is really beyond the scope of this addon. For example on my Warrior I don't track Shield Slam or Revenge either, on my Spriest I don't track Mind Blast or Shadow Word: Death. Those spells are part of my rotation, and the remaining cooldown alone really isn't sufficient to make a quick decision. As a hunter, you have also have to factor in other things, like the swing timer, the remaining duration of Serpent Sting, or the HP of the target for Kill Shot. CooldownWatch is better suited for longer, more situational cooldowns like Silencing, Concussive, Tranquilizing or Traps.

For a GCD bar you should try Quartz, there's a module Quartz_GCD specifically for that purpose. You can find the latest version on curse.com.
Last edited by Tifi : 01-26-09 at 04:29 AM.
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