35
submitted 11 months ago by netvor@lemmy.world to c/linux@lemmy.ml

Is there some mature and usable application or tool that would enable tracking desktop activities to aid in time tracking?

Over 10 years (back when I used Windows at work), I recall I was using an app on Windows -- I forgot what it was, definitely closed source, although very well made -- that would sit somewhere in the tray and just track my activities (mostly just active window title and app), and later it would enable me to look back at the data, analyze it and categorize the time.

I recall that for my rather ADD-ish brain, this was a life-saver.

I don't recall name of the app, but it looked kinda similar like timeBro (judging just from brief look at their web page and their demo)

I haven't seen anything like that for Linux -- I admit I haven't really tried to search very hard. Given the vast diversity of desktops (from GNOME to KDE to i3), technologies (Xorg to Wayland...) and work environments (native apps, web browsers, flatpaks, command lines, IDE's, Vim's, even SSH servers) I wonder if it would even be feasible to have something like this that would work reliably everywhere-ish and provide really useful data.

all 12 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] igorlogius@lemmy.world 11 points 11 months ago

that would sit somewhere ... and just track my activities

https://arbtt.nomeata.de/#what

[-] dingus@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 months ago

Loving this! Thanks for the link

[-] igorlogius@lemmy.world 4 points 11 months ago
[-] CAPSLOCKFTW@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 months ago
[-] netvor@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

activitywatch looks really good. thanks for the link!

rescuetime looks nice but is actually mac/win only.

[-] CAPSLOCKFTW@lemmy.ml 3 points 11 months ago
[-] PrecisePangolin@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

Toggl is web based. I have used that in the past with success.

[-] netvor@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago

I heard of Toggl but I can't wrap my head around how -- a web-based app can even know what i'm working on -- in other tabs or outside browser (which for me is 90% of meaningful work)?

[-] AProfessional@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

They have a desktop app and browser extensions.

[-] macallik@kbin.social 1 points 11 months ago

They discontinued the Linux desktop app IIRC fyi

[-] PrecisePangolin@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 months ago

It has been like 2-3 years since I’ve used it, but if i remember correctly you name the topic you’re working on and can tag it to an existing project. Its made to quickly label a sub task and start the timer, then you can organize the time blocks later or at the end of a working session. It really is quick and intuitive. Good luck!

this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
35 points (97.3% liked)

Linux

46030 readers
936 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS