Timer

Provides a strightforward means for controlling time critical execution. Can be used as a "stop watch" timer or as a "time bomb" timer.

  t = Timer.new(10) { raise TimeoutError, "timeout!" }
  t.start
    :      # done within 10sec timeout
  t.stop
  t.start
    :
  if condition then
    t.reset       #--> restart timer
  end

A Kernel method is also provided for easily timing the exectuion of a block.

  timed { |timer|
     timer.total_time.round #=> 0

     sleep 1
     timer.total_time.round #=> 1

     timer.stop
     timer.total_time.round #=> 1

     sleep 2
     timer.total_time.round #=> 1

     timer.start
     timer.total_time.round #=> 1

     sleep 1
     timer.total_time.round #=> 2
  }