TL;DR
Bedtime is a small, open-source web project that tells a short, progressively slowing bedtime story while intentionally spinning a JavaScript loader to help users drift off. The demo is hosted at http://bedtime.my and the source is available under an Apache-2.0 license on GitHub.
What happened
A developer published a lightweight web toy called Bedtime that pairs a short, incremental story about a character named Liora with an intentionally persistent JavaScript loading spinner. As the story progresses, the time the spinner runs and the speed at which text appears increase, with the author describing the effect as making it less likely you’ll reach the end. The project repository, maintained by user sarusso, contains an index.html, manifest.json, a service worker file (sw.js), and screenshot images. The README notes the author built the tool after noticing a spinner helped them fall asleep during a late-night session, and that adding the site to a phone home screen should display it fullscreen. The project is public on GitHub, licensed under Apache-2.0, and the demo can be tried at the provided URL.
Why it matters
- Demonstrates a novel, low-effort use of familiar web UI elements (a loader and progressive text) for a wellness-related purpose.
- Is an example of how simple front-end behavior can be repurposed as a user experience tool beyond performance signaling.
- Offers a small, open-source demo that others can inspect, fork, or adapt under a permissive license.
- Points to how micro-interactions on the web can affect user state, intentionally or unintentionally.
Key facts
- Project name: Bedtime
- Author / repository owner: sarusso
- Demo URL: http://bedtime.my (listed in the README)
- Repository: https://github.com/sarusso/bedtime
- License: Apache-2.0
- Repository files include index.html, manifest.json, sw.js and screenshots
- Languages shown in the repo: ~99% HTML, ~1% JavaScript
- Stars: 3; Watchers: 0; Forks: 0
- No releases published
- README explains the loader duration and text speed increase over the story
What to watch next
- Whether the demo URL (http://bedtime.my) remains online or receives updates — not confirmed in the source
- Future repository activity such as commits, issues, or pull requests indicating maintenance or feature additions
- Cross-browser and device behavior (including fullscreen on phones) — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- JavaScript loader: A visual indicator in web interfaces that signals work in progress, often displayed as a spinner or progress bar.
- Service worker: A script that runs in the background of a browser to enable offline behavior, caching, and background tasks for web apps.
- manifest.json: A JSON file used by web apps to declare metadata (name, icons, display mode) that helps browsers install or present the app on devices.
- Apache-2.0: A permissive open-source license that allows reuse, modification, and distribution with attribution and a patent grant.
Reader FAQ
Is the project free to use?
Yes. The repository is public and licensed under Apache-2.0.
How do I try it?
The README points to a demo at http://bedtime.my and notes adding the site to a phone home screen should display fullscreen.
Who created Bedtime?
The repository owner listed in the source is sarusso.
Does it actually help you sleep?
Not confirmed in the source.
Bedtime Fall asleep by watching JavaScript load This little toy project progressively tells a bedtime story about Liora and its little companion, while intentionally making a JavaScript loader spin for…
Sources
- Show HN: Fall asleep by watching JavaScript load
- Snorble® | Imagine a Better Bedtime. For Your Child. For You
- OVERFUN Web Launcher Spider String Shooter Toy, Cool …
- Light and Sound Sleep Aids
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