7 ms·

What makes this ADHD friendly? Also, as you prob know, there are multiple free/FOSS native taskbar based pomodoro apps that really get out the way, what is the

by dotBen 4y ago

What makes this ADHD friendly? Also, as you prob know, there are multiple free/FOSS native taskbar based pomodoro apps that really get out the way, what is the advantage of using a browser based on?

grzracz 4y ago
It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. People with ADHD (myself included) struggle with time blindness and just starting tasks in general, so this helps with that (I hope) by: a) making the start of your tasks just a simple press of a button b) keeping your progress of time and your deadline right in front of you. It's just another one of pomodoro apps that I made specifically for myself and wanted to share in case someone wants to use it as well :)
- Ragii 3y ago
  Maybe you can try turning it into a progressive web app so it can be installed and receive notifications
- vineyardmike 4y ago
  A suggestion I have (as a time-blind ADHD person): try to hijack the browsers’ Picture in Picture mode, or display a timer icon in the window bar or tab favicon. Unless you keep your browser tab open, you can’t see it. A “gauge” icon in the browser bar would be enough to actually be in view without being distracting. Repackaging as a plug-in would give you a tab-free icon.
  - IndigoIncognito 4y ago
    Maybe a "livestream-esq" video would work
  - rpastuszak 4y ago
    Screen-level overlays work nicely if you can take the native route (or use sth like Tauri). I have a goat showing up on the screen at random intervals and telling the to slow the fuck down when I speak: https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 For time management I'm using Be Focused (always visible + sound cues)
  - myhf 4y ago
    Yes, time display in the window title can be nice. I made a simple web app for a similar purpose, that demonstrates the technique: http://pclock.github.io/ http://pclock.github.io/ based on an old flash app: https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrastinators/ https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrasti...
  - peebeebee 3y ago
    Indeed. Here is a very lightweight demo I did with this: https://pipodoro.vercel.app https://pipodoro.vercel.app Code can be found on https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro
- lelanthran 4y ago
  > It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. Then it really shouldn't be a browser app, it needs to be a local app that runs in the taskbar. I've made two of these in the past: V1, browser based: the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. V2, Bash+zenity script to run locally, pops up a uncloseable, uncoverable and omnipresent (across all workspaces) window, with a progress bar showing the time as it elapses[1], and properly sends desktop notifications. A much more functional experience than V1 which was invisible while I was working, stuck on a single workspace (I have nine in a 3x3 grid) and frequently didn't send notifications. V3, Next iteration, local application without a window but with taskbar integration for timer display. Might just decide to hack zenity to provide a 'taskbar' widget. [1] If you're interested my V2 app (run locally), see https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a22b4f61 https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a...
  - cj 4y ago
    > the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. E.g. I've built a chrome extension that shows an "On" badge when it's activated in the current tab. Via the same mechanism you could display the number of minutes remaining. Edit: Random article showing this in action: https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-badge-644 https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-ba... -- also, no idea if it's supported in v3
    - lelanthran 4y ago
      > Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. Then it's not a browser app anymore, it's a chrome app. Maybe not even that, it's a chrome app that needs a specific extension as well? I'm using Firefox. Having to install Chome+extensions just for a pomodoro app is extremely unappealing to me.
      - refulgentis 4y ago
        Nah, you’re reaching too far to neg your interlocutor, been available for mobile for years and even Safari finally shipped it
- rmdes 4y ago
  I would package this as a local nativefier app and have it running as a dedicated app/window for it to make sense for me.. This as a browser tab would just get lost. Is there source code for this?
  - grzracz 4y ago
    Yep! https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork Enjoy :)
- smcleod 4y ago
  For me it would make more sense as a (native) desktop app, personally I like the idea of attention / flow timers but not if they're another browser tab (or electron app.
- halfcat 3y ago
  One idea to explore, is using analog-looking timers instead of the digital-looking ones. I’ve heard this recommended by a number of “time blind” folks.
kawfey 4y ago
My company's IT bans installing anything outside of their software application management/installation application. All software goes through a laborious approval process. Webapps like this are very useful to me.
- sshine 4y ago
  My employer’s IT policy is to require asking for permission to access a laptop’s administrator account, and have the sysadmin audit the log. Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework.
  - lhoff 4y ago
    > Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework. Sadly the answer my employer has in that case: buy a VMWare Workstation License in the store and use you special snowflake OS in there. Still better than nothing but also a bit annoying.
    - rileymat2 4y ago
      Is this a problem? I am sure it is not a common workflow, but I have done most of my work inside VMS pretty much exclusively for years. It makes it so easy to freeze the state of a project, do backups, quick snapshots. Archive finished projects. Removes any fear of upgrading. Keeps work clean, I need to know project dependencies when starting a new one on a fresh VM. It keeps my base system very barebones with respect to software installed. I can also get up and running with a new host machine upgrade by simply copying the vms to the new host.
      - z3t4 3y ago
        What do you use for virtualization? And what do you use for graphics? (example Libvirt/VNC)
- ParetoOptimal 4y ago
diimdeep 4y ago
It allows to set 0 minutes work, and just doing breaks all day.
- tester457 3y ago
  That's a feature not a bug. Let me enjoy my day of only breaks.

by dotBen 4y ago

What makes this ADHD friendly? Also, as you prob know, there are multiple free/FOSS native taskbar based pomodoro apps that really get out the way, what is the advantage of using a browser based on?

grzracz 4y ago

It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. People with ADHD (myself included) struggle with time blindness and just starting tasks in general, so this helps with that (I hope) by: a) making the start of your tasks just a simple press of a button b) keeping your progress of time and your deadline right in front of you. It's just another one of pomodoro apps that I made specifically for myself and wanted to share in case someone wants to use it as well :)

Ragii 3y ago
Maybe you can try turning it into a progressive web app so it can be installed and receive notifications
vineyardmike 4y ago
A suggestion I have (as a time-blind ADHD person): try to hijack the browsers’ Picture in Picture mode, or display a timer icon in the window bar or tab favicon. Unless you keep your browser tab open, you can’t see it. A “gauge” icon in the browser bar would be enough to actually be in view without being distracting. Repackaging as a plug-in would give you a tab-free icon.
- IndigoIncognito 4y ago
  Maybe a "livestream-esq" video would work
- rpastuszak 4y ago
  Screen-level overlays work nicely if you can take the native route (or use sth like Tauri). I have a goat showing up on the screen at random intervals and telling the to slow the fuck down when I speak: https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 https://twitter.com/rafalpast/status/1272945933228167169 For time management I'm using Be Focused (always visible + sound cues)
- myhf 4y ago
  Yes, time display in the window title can be nice. I made a simple web app for a similar purpose, that demonstrates the technique: http://pclock.github.io/ http://pclock.github.io/ based on an old flash app: https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrastinators/ https://davidseah.com/2007/01/a-chindogu-clock-for-procrasti...
- peebeebee 3y ago
  Indeed. Here is a very lightweight demo I did with this: https://pipodoro.vercel.app https://pipodoro.vercel.app Code can be found on https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro https://github.com/peebeebee/pipodoro
lelanthran 4y ago
> It's designed to be somewhere in view of the person using it. Then it really shouldn't be a browser app, it needs to be a local app that runs in the taskbar. I've made two of these in the past: V1, browser based: the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. V2, Bash+zenity script to run locally, pops up a uncloseable, uncoverable and omnipresent (across all workspaces) window, with a progress bar showing the time as it elapses[1], and properly sends desktop notifications. A much more functional experience than V1 which was invisible while I was working, stuck on a single workspace (I have nine in a 3x3 grid) and frequently didn't send notifications. V3, Next iteration, local application without a window but with taskbar integration for timer display. Might just decide to hack zenity to provide a 'taskbar' widget. [1] If you're interested my V2 app (run locally), see https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a22b4f61 https://gist.github.com/lelanthran/bbbcf5c8b6b26c9bc0263384a...
- cj 4y ago
  > the browser simply wasn't viable because there's no taskbar timer. Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. E.g. I've built a chrome extension that shows an "On" badge when it's activated in the current tab. Via the same mechanism you could display the number of minutes remaining. Edit: Random article showing this in action: https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-badge-644 https://dev.to/paulasantamaria/chrome-extensions-adding-a-ba... -- also, no idea if it's supported in v3
  - lelanthran 4y ago
    > Chrome supports badges on chrome extensions. Then it's not a browser app anymore, it's a chrome app. Maybe not even that, it's a chrome app that needs a specific extension as well? I'm using Firefox. Having to install Chome+extensions just for a pomodoro app is extremely unappealing to me.
    - refulgentis 4y ago
      Nah, you’re reaching too far to neg your interlocutor, been available for mobile for years and even Safari finally shipped it
rmdes 4y ago
I would package this as a local nativefier app and have it running as a dedicated app/window for it to make sense for me.. This as a browser tab would just get lost. Is there source code for this?
- grzracz 4y ago
  Yep! https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork https://github.com/grzracz/BrainPlsWork Enjoy :)
smcleod 4y ago
For me it would make more sense as a (native) desktop app, personally I like the idea of attention / flow timers but not if they're another browser tab (or electron app.
halfcat 3y ago
One idea to explore, is using analog-looking timers instead of the digital-looking ones. I’ve heard this recommended by a number of “time blind” folks.

kawfey 4y ago

My company's IT bans installing anything outside of their software application management/installation application. All software goes through a laborious approval process. Webapps like this are very useful to me.

sshine 4y ago
My employer’s IT policy is to require asking for permission to access a laptop’s administrator account, and have the sysadmin audit the log. Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework.
- lhoff 4y ago
  > Unfortunately, as part of my special duties, I need to run an operating system that is not compatible with this framework. Sadly the answer my employer has in that case: buy a VMWare Workstation License in the store and use you special snowflake OS in there. Still better than nothing but also a bit annoying.
  - rileymat2 4y ago
    Is this a problem? I am sure it is not a common workflow, but I have done most of my work inside VMS pretty much exclusively for years. It makes it so easy to freeze the state of a project, do backups, quick snapshots. Archive finished projects. Removes any fear of upgrading. Keeps work clean, I need to know project dependencies when starting a new one on a fresh VM. It keeps my base system very barebones with respect to software installed. I can also get up and running with a new host machine upgrade by simply copying the vms to the new host.
    - z3t4 3y ago
      What do you use for virtualization? And what do you use for graphics? (example Libvirt/VNC)
ParetoOptimal 4y ago

diimdeep 4y ago

It allows to set 0 minutes work, and just doing breaks all day.

tester457 3y ago
That's a feature not a bug. Let me enjoy my day of only breaks.