feat: Support update timer

[dcapslock]

Closes #436

Screen.Recording.2025-08-31.at.5.00.35.pm.mov

[Copilot]

Pull Request Overview

This PR adds an update_timer feature that allows button cards to automatically refresh at specified intervals. This is particularly useful for cards without entities or when triggers_update is not suitable.

Key changes:

• Added new update_timer configuration option that accepts a number (>=100ms) or template
• Implemented timer-based card refresh mechanism with proper cleanup
• Added comprehensive documentation and test examples

Reviewed Changes

Copilot reviewed 4 out of 4 changed files in this pull request and generated 2 comments.

File	Description
src/types/types.ts	Added update_timer property to button card configuration interfaces
src/button-card.ts	Implemented timer logic with timeout management and refresh mechanism
test/ui-lovelace.yaml	Added test cases demonstrating static and template-based update timers
README.md	Documented the new update_timer feature with usage guidelines

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[RomRider]

Thanks!

What about using https://www.npmjs.com/package/parse-duration to parse the field to make it a bit more user friendly?

One thing however, I think that if update_interval is set, nothing else should trigger an update of the card. WDYT?

[dcapslock]

I have implemented parse, also added as a helper parseDuration which will a good addition. I added locale support but not 100% dynamic if locales added due to how the parse library manages locales. I think it is OK maintenence wise.

Regarding when to update, I have left as is. Suppose a user is using an entity, which needs to update, but then also an update timer of say '1 minute' for a slow updating custom_field. In this case only updating on the updates_timer will miss the entity update.

[RomRider]

Regarding when to update, I have left as is. Suppose a user is using an entity, which needs to update, but then also an update timer of say '1 minute' for a slow updating custom_field. In this case only updating on the updates_timer will miss the entity update.

I do agree with the use case, but I'm pretty sure some users would want to ONLY update on interval 😄 Maybe an option to force only updating on interval? enforce_update_timer with a default to false?

[dcapslock]

enforce_update_timer with a default to false?

How about triggers_update: update_timer?

[dcapslock]

How about triggers_update: update_timer?

This has been added including to make sure that if update_timer is in use and hass updated that the duration is checked, and if not the same as active, then return true for shouldUpdate. New timer will be started after the update (existing) which makes sure not to intriduced any update loops.

I think the doco makes sense. I tried not to be too wordy.

Not needed

[github-actions]

🎉 This PR is included in version 5.0.0-dev.1 🎉

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