Handling multiple timers in a single script/module

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#1

Hello!

I am currently working on a game that has four lobbies, each should have a 30 second countdown as soon as the first player joins, and then if they leave, the timer stops. Since a loop is already running, doesn’t this mean no other functions can be interacted with? I was thinking something like this:

function Lobby1()
    for i=1,30 do
        wait(1)
    end
end
function Lobby2()
    for i=1,30 do
        wait(1)
    end
end

…etc all the way to Lobby4. The issue is, won’t that mean multiple functions can’t run in a single scripts at one time? Pretty much a yes or no question, however I don’t want to put in all of the work to have it end up not working.

#2

Yes you are correct. It will be ran alone until it end then goes to the next function.

Unless you use a coroutine like this.

function Lobby1()
    for i=1,30 do
        wait(1)
    end
end
function Lobby2()
    for i=1,30 do
        wait(1)
    end
end

coroutine.wrap(Lobby1)

Coroutines basically make a new thread allowing a function to run freely without disturbing the code beneath it.
From what I have heard, coroutines are automatically garbage collected after they end running (in luau) so no need to worry about memory leaks on that extent.

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#3

Just out of curiosity, do you recommend using this in a module? If so, how would I do that?

Would something like this work?

module = {}
function module:StartTimer(lobby) 
    coroutine.wrap(lobby) -- just connect to whichever function, hadn't included it in this example for simplicity.
end
return module
#4

It would be better if you do it in the main script as that looks like a waste of lines to me. Or you can bring the whole game managment to the module.

I’m not so good with modules and I don’t think you can pass a function as an argument.

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#5

No, you can’t pass it like that IIRC, I will probably just do it in a single script as you said. So I just wrap the function in a coroutine and that should work?

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#6

Yes, correct.

Just an FYI

There’s also coroutine.create and coroutine.resume which do the same thing as coroutine.wrap

local Coroutine = coroutine.create(Lobby1)
coroutine.resume(Coroutine)

Edit: There’s also spawn implemented by Roblox

1 Like
#7

Got it, thanks! I’ll keep your original response as the answer though, as it’s more informational.

1 Like