Timer releases on GitHub

Timer release files for this guide live on vladelaina/Catime releases. The current tag is v1.6.2 published August 27, 2026. Prefer catime_*.exe when you download by hand.

Square timer dial panel with tick-arc and hand framed in ink on cool paper.
Timer panel diagram: a framed dial used across this install guide. Tick Quill original tick-arc geometry (original geometry, not the upstream app icon).

What the current tag ships

Tag v1.6.2 ships the Windows portable named catime_1.6.2.exe (1.1 MB). Winget package VladElaina.Catime maps to that same portable family. Scoop extras and Chocolatey also publish catime when you already use those tools.

There are no macOS dmg or Linux deb assets on the verified tag. This timer path is Windows-primary on purpose. Home install panel: timer home. Safe fetch habits: download safe.

Portable size stays near one megabyte on recent tags, which matches the upstream pitch for a thin Win32 countdown tool. Small size is not a reason to skip filename checks. Always match catime_ plus version plus .exe before you run anything.

How to read asset names

Match catime_ plus a dotted version plus .exe. Refuse renamed “timer setup” zips from review portals. Checksums and unrelated CI artifacts are not the everyday install file. When winget is available, winget install -e --id VladElaina.Catime avoids picking the wrong mirror by hand.

Release notes may mention Chocolatey, Scoop, and winget together. That is expected. Pick one door and stick with it so updates stay boring. Package walkthrough: winget and packages.

If a page offers a “full installer suite” that also wants a browser toolbar, close it. The official Releases list for this timer is short on purpose. One portable exe is the entire everyday payload for desk countdowns.

Version cadence

Recent tags follow a v* pattern such as recent v* tags. This site reads live release data at build time, so the install panel shows the current version without hard-coding a dotted string in prose. After an upgrade, prove one short countdown before you enable stronger timeout actions again.

If a tag ships only the portable exe, do not wait for a missing MSI that never existed. Portable Win32 is the product shape. Windows install steps: install on Windows.

Winget manifests under microsoft/winget-pkgs track VladElaina/Catime versions including the current release. When winget lags a brand-new tag by a day, the Releases exe remains valid. Scoop extras JSON for catime also pointed at v1.6.2 when verified on the review date.

After you download

Run the exe, find the tray icon, and set one duration you already use. Edit mode helps place the overlay. Keep shutdown and restart actions off until a message timeout feels trustworthy. First hour: installed. First run: first run.

Back up %LOCALAPPDATA%\Catime\config.ini before experiments with fonts, tray GIFs, or plugins. That file is the local memory for this timer. Repo map: GitHub overview.

If SmartScreen shows an unfamiliar publisher string, stop and confirm you typed github.com/vladelaina/Catime yourself. Reputation warnings on new MinGW portables are discussed in upstream SECURITY.md. Safety notes: is it safe.

Common release mistakes

People often grab an older exe from a blog mirror instead of the current tag. Fix: open the Releases URL yourself and match the filename. People also invent brew packages for a Windows-only timer. Fix: brew had no catime formula when verified. People stack winget and portable copies on one PC. Fix: uninstall one style before switching.

When antivirus flags a fresh MinGW portable, read the project SECURITY notes and confirm the hash against the Releases asset you intended. Do not “fix” the warning by downloading a second copy from an ad page. Troubleshooting: troubleshooting.

Another mistake is treating Microsoft Store badges on marketing pages as the only legal path. Store distribution can exist as an alternate channel, but this guide’s verified door is GitHub Releases plus winget, Scoop, and Chocolatey ids recorded in RESEARCH.

Where releases fit in the cluster

Releases answer which file to trust. GitHub explains source layout. Download safe explains mirrors to refuse. For this computer walks OS realities on a single desk. Guides expand install and everyday use under guides.

Keep saying timer when you mean a local countdown overlay. Keep saying Catime when you need the exact GitHub project name. This releases page exists so the timer filename stays attached to the right tag.

When you teach someone else, send the Releases URL and the exact asset pattern, not a screenshot of a search ad. Shared desks stay cleaner when the update door is written once and reused after every reimage.