Countdown until mysql query is executed

Question

I'm redeveloping my online text based MMO, And I'm building a "Travel" Script Where a user clicks where they want to go and it takes X minutes to get there.

The only problem is - Due to limitations of my host, I cannot run 1 cronjob every minute to take away time spent travelling.

Can someone tell me how i could achieve this without using crons? Delaying a query from being run for multiples of 1 minute or so?

Once they set off, A countdown from that moment of X minutes begins, And once their travel time reaches 0 their "location" is set to "destination"

Thanks!

You could use a javascript like setTimeout() check the time and when your condition is met call a script that will make the query. — Cyclonecode
– Cyclonecode, Commented Nov 17, 2013 at 4:16
are you sure your model design is ok? the time left to destination should not be stored in the database i believe (but maybe I'm wrong) — Sebas
– Sebas, Commented Nov 17, 2013 at 4:19
so the user sits staring at the screen until the travel time is done? — user557846
– user557846, Commented Nov 17, 2013 at 4:22
@Dagon No, The User Initiates the travel by choosing a destination and then a countdown is initiated, During travel the user will be able to navigate away from that page and the timer will be displayed somewhere else. when the timer reaches 0 a query will be run to move them to their destination and then the location link will appear again. — user3000881
– user3000881, Commented Nov 18, 2013 at 4:31
@ElliottFrisch That's what i'm aiming for, how would i go about a query for that? — user3000881
– user3000881, Commented Nov 18, 2013 at 15:43

Herbert Musoke · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-17 05:26:30Z

2

Use PHP sleep() method.

Like sleep(60); will result in the script to wait execution for 1 minute.

Do NOT set a script timeout as it wont make any sense.

answered Nov 17, 2013 at 5:26

Herbert Musoke

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2 Comments

user3000881 Over a year ago

Will the user be able to navigate away from the page this is in? for example go from travel.php to chat.php without this being affected?

Herbert Musoke Over a year ago

Yah. If you decide to redirect them. The delay can only be part of a certain method but not the whole script.

Elliott Frisch · Accepted Answer · 2013-11-21 04:44:43Z

0

I suggest you add a destination time column, set it to when the animals should arrive, and then in the client display a countdown until that time. You could use a query such as

select * from arrivals where arrival_time < now();

To get a list of animals that have not yet arrived, and of course the arrival_time is when they will arrive.

answered Nov 21, 2013 at 4:44

Elliott Frisch

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