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This is a very interesting read, because I took the opposite approach. I started out with the premise that manual logging is very hard to do well. It takes eff
by conradev 10y ago
This is a very interesting read, because I took the opposite approach.
I started out with the premise that manual logging is very hard to do well. It takes effort on my part (and thus hinges on my discipline), can be inconsistent, and can change depending on what my important metrics are.
I automatically collect as much information as possible. I log every time I change a window or tab and what I change it to (extending from native windows on macOS all the way through to virtual windows in gmail.com). I log the same from my iPhone. I throw all of my data in a Postgres data warehouse, and then use a BI tool to normalize it and put some KPIs in a dashboard.
This system allows me to ask anything from "what articles did I read last week?" to "what percentage of my time at work did I spend programming?" to "how much did I sleep this week?" to "who do I spend the most time messaging?".
It's also an exercise in understanding that metadata is incredibly revealing.
- pcmonk 10y agoSounds interesting! Sounds like you've hand-rolled this, have you published anything about your system? I'm sure the details would be fascinating.
- conradev 10y agoI haven't yet! I should really get around to doing that.
- someguydave 10y agoIs it possible to collect this kind of information on iOS without rooting the device?
- conradev 10y agoNope. I have a background in jailbreaking and use a jailbroken phone :O
- 0x09 10y agoI've done a similar thing with https://github.com/0x09/watch https://github.com/0x09/watch It's extremely simple but it allows me to do things like plot a color coded calendar of app usage, which can provide very revealing info about things like productivity spikes and lulls or sleep schedules. I have a companion Safari extension for tracking active tabs which I did not release since it seemed like such a niche and strange thing to use, but the main code to do that is simply https://gist.github.com/0x09/d1220a7b0a0bda64b4f542067cd43ec7 https://gist.github.com/0x09/d1220a7b0a0bda64b4f542067cd43ec...
- ifree 10y agoI had also written a tool like yours: https://github.com/ifree/ActivityLogger https://github.com/ifree/ActivityLogger
- arjie 10y agoDepending on the ease of use of this thing, I will pay up to £25 one time if you'll let me host the data myself. If you bountysource, I will pre-pledge before you have delivered. I think you're sitting on something useful. I currently use RescueTime but I'd be more comfortable with one time fee and holding on to the data myself. I only mention the money in case you're wondering how much it's worth to other people.