PowerShell Timer with Real-Time Counting

timer.ps1

# Initialize timer variables
$timerStart = $null
$elapsedTime = $null

# Function to display elapsed time
function DisplayElapsedTime {
    param (
        [ref]$startTime,
        [ref]$elapsedTime
    )

    while ($true) {
        # Calculate and display the elapsed time
        $elapsed = (Get-Date) - $startTime.Value
        Write-Host -NoNewline "`rElapsed Time: $($elapsed.TotalSeconds) seconds"

        # Exit loop if a key is pressed
        if ($host.UI.RawUI.KeyAvailable) {
            $host.UI.RawUI.FlushInputBuffer()
            Write-Host "" # Move to a new line
            $elapsedTime.Value = $elapsed
            break
        }

        Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 100
    }
}

# Main loop to keep the script running
while ($true) {
    # Get user command
    $userCommand = Read-Host "Enter command (start, view, reset, exit)"

    switch ($userCommand) {
        "start" {
            # Record the current time when the timer starts
            $timerStart = Get-Date
            Write-Host "Timer started. Press any key to stop."
            DisplayElapsedTime -startTime ([ref]$timerStart) -elapsedTime ([ref]$elapsedTime)
        }
        "view" {
            if ($elapsedTime -ne $null) {
                Write-Host "Final Elapsed Time: $($elapsedTime.TotalSeconds) seconds"
            }
            else {
                Write-Host "Please start the timer first."
            }
        }
        "reset" {
            # Reset all timer variables
            $timerStart = $null
            $elapsedTime = $null
            Write-Host "Timer reset."
        }
        "exit" {
            # Exit the script
            Write-Host "Exiting script."
            return
        }
        default {
            Write-Host "Invalid command. Use start, view, reset, or exit."
        }
    }
}