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+# Feature: Timer Breaks (Pause During Work)
+
+## Overview
+Allow users to take breaks while a timer is running. When on break, elapsed time is frozen and break time is tracked. When resumed, break time accumulates and is subtracted from the displayed work time.
+
+## User Experience
+
+### Timer States
+1. **Running** — normal state, elapsed time ticking
+2. **On Break** — elapsed time frozen, break time ticking, Stop/Cancel buttons disabled
+3. **Stopped** — no timer active
+
+### UI Changes (TimerWidget)
+- Add a **"Break"** button (amber, `Pause` icon) next to Stop when timer is running
+- When on break:
+  - Change pulsing dot color from red to amber
+  - Elapsed time frozen at net work time
+  - Show break time below: `Break: Xm XXs` (live-ticking)
+  - Replace "Break" button with **"Resume"** button (green, `Play` icon)
+  - **Disable** Stop and Cancel buttons (tooltip: "Resume before stopping")
+
+### Duration Calculations
+- **Work time (displayed):** `now - startTime - totalBreakSeconds`
+  - Where `totalBreakSeconds = (breakMinutes * 60) + (now - breakStart if on break)`
+  - When on break: frozen at `(breakStart - startTime - breakMinutes * 60)`
+- **Break time (displayed):** `breakMinutes * 60 + (now - breakStart if on break)`
+
+## Implementation
+
+### 1. Database Schema (`backend/prisma/schema.prisma`)
+Add two fields to `OngoingTimer`:
+```prisma
+model OngoingTimer {
+  // ... existing fields ...
+  breakMinutes Int       @default(0) @map("break_minutes")
+  breakStart   DateTime? @map("break_start") @db.Timestamptz()
+}
+```
+Run: `npx prisma migrate dev --name add_timer_break_fields`
+
+### 2. Backend Service (`backend/src/services/timer.service.ts`)
+
+**New method `startBreak(userId)`:**
+- Get ongoing timer, throw `NotFoundError` if none
+- Check `timer.breakStart` is null (not already on break), throw `BadRequestError` if on break
+- Update: `breakStart = new Date()`
+- Return updated timer
+
+**New method `endBreak(userId)`:**
+- Get ongoing timer, throw `NotFoundError` if none
+- Check `timer.breakStart` is not null, throw `BadRequestError` if not on break
+- Calculate additional break minutes: `Math.floor((now - breakStart) / 60000)`
+- Update: `breakMinutes += additionalMinutes`, `breakStart = null`
+- Return updated timer
+
+**Modify `stop(userId)`:**
+- Before creating time entry, check `timer.breakStart` is null — throw `BadRequestError("Cannot stop timer while on break")` if break is active
+- When creating `TimeEntry`, set `breakMinutes: timer.breakMinutes`
+
+**Modify `cancel(userId)`:**
+- Check `timer.breakStart` is null — throw `BadRequestError("Cannot cancel timer while on break")` if break is active
+
+### 3. Backend Routes (`backend/src/routes/timer.routes.ts`)
+Add two new routes (both require auth, no body validation):
+```
+POST /api/timer/break    → timerService.startBreak(userId)
+POST /api/timer/resume   → timerService.endBreak(userId)
+```
+
+### 4. MCP Tools (`backend/src/routes/mcp.routes.ts`)
+Add two MCP tools: `pause_timer` and `resume_timer`.
+
+### 5. Frontend Types (`frontend/src/types/index.ts`)
+Update `OngoingTimer` interface:
+```typescript
+export interface OngoingTimer {
+  // ... existing fields ...
+  breakMinutes: number;
+  breakStart: string | null;
+}
+```
+
+### 6. Frontend API (`frontend/src/api/timer.ts`)
+Add two methods:
+```typescript
+startBreak: async (): Promise<OngoingTimer> => { ... }
+endBreak: async (): Promise<OngoingTimer> => { ... }
+```
+
+### 7. Frontend TimerContext (`frontend/src/contexts/TimerContext.tsx`)
+- Add `breakSeconds` state (live-updating, similar to `elapsedSeconds`)
+- Expose `isOnBreak` derived boolean (`ongoingTimer?.breakStart !== null`)
+- Update elapsed time calculation:
+  - Running: `(now - startTime) - (breakMinutes * 60) - (now - breakStart if on break)`
+  - On break: `(breakStart - startTime) - (breakMinutes * 60)` (frozen)
+- Break seconds: `(breakMinutes * 60) + (now - breakStart if on break)`
+- Add `startBreak()` and `endBreak()` callbacks
+- Expose `breakSeconds` and `isOnBreak` in context value
+
+### 8. Frontend TimerWidget (`frontend/src/components/TimerWidget.tsx`)
+- Import `Pause` icon from lucide-react
+- Add Break/Resume button between project selector and Stop button
+- Show break time display when `breakSeconds > 0` or `isOnBreak`
+- Change dot color to amber when on break
+- Disable Stop/Cancel when on break with tooltip
+
+## Files to Modify (in order)
+
+| # | File | Change |
+|---|------|--------|
+| 1 | `backend/prisma/schema.prisma` | Add `breakMinutes`, `breakStart` to `OngoingTimer` |
+| 2 | `backend/src/services/timer.service.ts` | Add `startBreak()`, `endBreak()`, modify `stop()` and `cancel()` |
+| 3 | `backend/src/routes/timer.routes.ts` | Add `/break` and `/resume` routes |
+| 4 | `backend/src/routes/mcp.routes.ts` | Add `pause_timer` and `resume_timer` MCP tools |
+| 5 | `frontend/src/types/index.ts` | Add `breakMinutes`, `breakStart` to `OngoingTimer` |
+| 6 | `frontend/src/api/timer.ts` | Add `startBreak()`, `endBreak()` API methods |
+| 7 | `frontend/src/contexts/TimerContext.tsx` | Add break state, `breakSeconds`, `isOnBreak`, break methods |
+| 8 | `frontend/src/components/TimerWidget.tsx` | Add break UI (button, display, disabled states) |
+
+## Edge Cases
+- Break start must be after timer start (always true since break is clicked after start)
+- Break duration naturally cannot exceed work duration (breakStart > startTime)
+- On stop: reject if break is active (user must resume first)
+- On cancel: reject if break is active (user must resume first)
+- Break minutes accumulate across multiple break/resume cycles
+- Timer refetch (every 60s) will sync break state from server
+
+## Verification
+- Run `npm run lint` in both `frontend/` and `backend/`
+- Run `npm run build` in both `frontend/` and `backend/`
+- Manual testing: start timer → break → verify elapsed frozen, break ticking → resume → verify break added to total → stop → verify time entry has correct breakMinutes