Workshop › Typing Rain › Step 9 of 33

Let it rain

What we are doing

A spawn timer counts down every frame; at zero a new word appears and the timer starts again from SPAWN_EVERY (138 frames, a bit over two seconds). The game starts with no words and the timer at 0, so the first word comes at once.

```js
const SPAWN_EVERY = 138

let spawnTimer

  words = []
  spawnTimer = 0

function update() {
  spawnTimer -= 1
  if (spawnTimer <= 0) {
    spawn()
    spawnTimer = SPAWN_EVERY
  }
```

What it means

• spawnTimer counts down by 1 each frame (-=).
• if (spawnTimer <= 0) is true when it runs out: spawn a word and wind the timer up again.
• reset starts with an empty list and the timer at 0.

Your turn

1. Under SPEED write SPAWN_EVERY; under let words write let spawnTimer.
2. In reset, replace the hand-written list with words = [] and spawnTimer = 0.
3. At the top of update, write the timer lines.

Skills: The game loop, Game states

← A new word from the list Gone past the ground →

All steps

1. A sky for the words
2. The ground
3. A word on the canvas
4. A function that draws
5. A list of words
6. Make them fall
7. The game loop
8. A new word from the list
9. Let it rain
10. Gone past the ground
11. Lock on to a word
12. Listen to the keyboard
13. Letter by letter
14. Half a word in yellow
15. Let go of a lost word
16. Lives
17. Hearts
18. Score
19. Out of lives
20. Freeze the game
21. The game over panel
22. Play again
23. Levels
24. Faster and faster
25. Best score
26. Accuracy
27. Words per minute
28. Your speed at the end
29. Where the keys go
30. Draw the keyboard
31. Light up the next key
32. Tap the keys
33. Build it yourself: change your mind