Sit.
A minimalist web app that’s essentially “just a timer that tells you to sit and do nothing” has prompted debate over how much technology should be involved in meditation and focus practices. Many readers praise its calming design, simple gong, and optional “together” mode, while others prefer low‑tech alternatives like watches, breath counting, or incense and question the need for any app at all. The exchange also touches on accessibility features (PWAs, haptics, metronomes for time blindness), privacy and monetization concerns, and whether unguided or objectless meditation can pose psychological risks for some users.
What Sit Is and Isn’t
- Described by its creator as “just a dumb timer” to get people to sit and do nothing; no hidden features beyond time + gong.
- Framed more as a minimal nudge or “glorified gong” than a product with rich functionality.
- Together mode (“nothing-together”) extends the idea to a shared, wordless space with simple sounds (“plomks”).
User Experiences and Use Cases
- Many found it immediately calming or effective for short mindful breaks, often while already comfortable with meditation.
- Some plan to use it as an “eyes-free” cue to stand, gaze out a window, or break from work rather than formal meditation.
- One detailed anecdote from a café highlighted how even a 2‑minute sit shifted perception toward quiet observation and social connection.
- Others prefer non-digital approaches (watches, breath-counting, incense) and see the problem as already solved offline.
Design, UX, and Technical Feedback
- Strong praise for visual design, typography (EB Garamond), sound design, and copy tone.
- Requests and follow‑ups for:
- Longer session limits (now up to 999 minutes).
- PWA/offline support, better fullscreen/immersion on mobile, and theme colors.
- Some users dislike automatic fullscreen and note its potential abuse in phishing or scammy UIs.
- Minor UI glitches reported (oversized dropdown, background loop point in together mode).
Meditation Philosophy and Psychological Considerations
- Debate over whether meditation is best used for “not thinking” vs. deep thinking.
- Several users emphasize non-goal, non-productive sitting as valuable, especially against hustle culture.
- Others stress potential psychological risks of unguided meditation (e.g., worsening anxiety, panic during body scans) and argue for care, context, or guidance.
- Counterpoint: very short, simple “just sit” timers are seen by some as low‑risk “just chilling.”
Related Tools and Alternatives
- Mention of other tools: simple meditation timers, FOSS Android apps, metronome/haptic apps for time blindness, ant-based breathing game, and haptic-focused meditation.
- Some users prefer ultra‑minimal personal techniques (breath counting patterns, intuition-based duration).
Criticism and Skepticism
- A minority view the accompanying essay as pretentious, quasi-spiritual, or stealth consulting marketing.
- Others push back, framing it as a sincere, small project against distraction and over-optimization.