How can I add a recurring timer to a Firefox addon?

Question

I am trying to create an addon with the new addons builder preview (https://builder.addons.mozilla.org/), and I need a function to run about once every 10 minutes. I have tried both setInterval and setTimeout, but they both return the following error:

    error: An exception occurred.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "resource://jid0-31njasqk3btmpa6paroepuybjn4-myaddon-lib/main.js", line 41, in 
    setTimeout(function() { timedCount(); }, 10000);
ReferenceError: setTimeout is not defined

(with setTimeout being replaced with setInterval when I tried it. The setTimeout function worked great in the similar webpage that I built. I just had the function call itself to give an infinite loop (It sounds stupid, there should be a while loop, but it was in a tutorial;) But now I can't get past that error in my addon.

Also, if you can help me parse a local or remote page in this addon (preferably remote, but I could make it parse a django-created page on localhost instead), or even better, just tell me how to use python ;) that would be great.

Thanks!

For your parsing question please create a separate question. — ThiefMaster, Mar 09 '11 at 15:55

score 9 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 29 '14 at 21:52

9

please note that the above is deprecated

var tmr = require('sdk/timers');

is now used instead

answered Jan 29 '14 at 21:52

Tubelight

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score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 09 '11 at 15:53

5

Use the timer module:

var tmr = require('timer');
tmr.setInterval(timedCount, 10000); // no need for an anon function since you don't pass any arguments to your function nor capture anything in a closure

answered Mar 09 '11 at 15:53

ThiefMaster

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Thanks! It works great! Unfortunately, I still can't do much in that function :( – Crazedpsyc Mar 09 '11 at 16:16

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 05 '14 at 14:10

Use nsITimer: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/XPCOM_Interface_Reference/nsITimer

It doesn't require you to use the unnecessary Jetpack SDK, and the extra require function; you can use Components.classes like you do for other XPCOM interaction within Mozilla addons.

How can I add a recurring timer to a Firefox addon?

3 Answers3

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