Icebreakers and Tomato Timers in Shiny for Python

Sam Parmar
2 min readSep 16, 2023
Photo by Ed O'Neil on Unsplash

Here’s a quick update on what I’ve been up to with Shiny for Python. Last month, I cooked up a couple applications during my downtime, just for kicks.

Icebreaker-py

Meet Icebreaker-py, a source for randomized icebreaker questions. The dataset for this tool comprises around 100 unique questions that I curated with the assistance of ChatGPT. In addition to generating questions, I’ve integrated some user-friendly features:

  • Randomize: Spice things up with the ‘R’ key to generate a new question. Use the slider to select up to five questions.
  • Copy icebreakers: A quick press of the ‘C’ key copies the question to your clipboard.
  • Toggle Difficulty: Dial the challenge up or down with the ‘D’ key.

Perhaps ChatGPT got a bit carried away with the emojis, but hey, who’s counting? 😅 Check it out for yourself here: Icebreaker-py on GitHub.

Pomotimer-py

Pomotimer-py presented a slightly steeper learning curve. Inspired by traditional Pomodoro timers, I recreated some apps I’ve found useful for enhancing my productivity. This project could give you valuable insights into the following:

  • Navbar Layouts: How to structure an intuitive navigation interface.
  • Modals: Pop-up elements to interact with the user.
  • Shiny Reactivity: Real-time updates without having to refresh the page.

Curious? Take a look at the repository: Pomotimer-py on GitHub.

Both projects were fun to build and deepened my understanding of Shiny for Python. They’re live for you to use, remix, or draw inspiration from. Enjoy!

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