9 ms·

Focus – Steal back your productivity

41 points by danboarder 12y ago

jefftchan 12y ago
Here's an open source alternative: https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/ https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/
- suyash 12y ago
  +1 for Open source software
- leviathan 12y ago
  The application itself does seem to be open source https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus
- inDigiNeous 12y ago
  +1 for Self Control. Does the same thing, is free.
- vostrocity 12y ago
  Does anyone have UI issues with SelfControl? I run SelfControl on a schedule using AppleScript and cron but often the program will get stuck (clicking SelfControl's UI button will do nothing). If anyone has a better way to automatically block internet access at set times (without using the router), let me know.
- ElCapitanMarkla 12y ago
  I came here to say this, it's great
- dyadic 12y ago
  I use Self Control occasionally, but it does sometimes block things that are not on the blacklist†. I hit this problem once. I was working on integrating some software with a public API when Self Control blocked access to the same API. Fortunately I'd only set the timer for a short while so I just had to wait it out. † https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/wiki/FAQ#q-other-sites-i-didnt-list-are-getting-blocked-why https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/wiki/FAQ#q-oth...
igvadaimon 12y ago
There is also this chrome App: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankej...
rgawdzik 12y ago
So how does licensing work considering it's on github? https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus
- ekianjo 12y ago
  I guess it's some kind of Open Source license then. Since it's on a public github repo.
  - ash 12y ago
    No. When you can read a book, it doesn't mean you have rights to distribute its text or create derivative work. "What happens if I don't choose a license? …Generally speaking, the absence of a license means that the default copyright laws apply. This means that you retain all rights to your source code and that nobody else may reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from your work." https://help.github.com/articles/open-source-licensing/ https://help.github.com/articles/open-source-licensing/
    - ekianjo 12y ago
      What happens when you fork then? Copyright infringement?
      - ash 12y ago
        GitHub Terms of Service apply in this case. Specifically: "We claim no intellectual property rights over the material you provide to the Service. Your profile and materials uploaded remain yours. However, by setting your pages to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view your Content. By setting your repositories to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view and fork your repositories." https://help.github.com/articles/github-terms-of-service/ https://help.github.com/articles/github-terms-of-service/
        ekianjo 12y ago
        I know and I have seen that before, but what happens when you fork copyrighted content then ?
hobo_mark 12y ago
I used to be into this sort of tools, but in the end: - simply logging off from said websites accomplishes the same, even if you instinctively type fac <enter> (sometimes it's a barely conscious reflex), you'll just see a login screen - if you are REALLY so tired that the only thing you can get your brain to do is to aimlessly wander back and forth between these websites, it just means your day is over, no amount of restraint or stimulants will be as effective as just going to do something else to recharge your willpower (and brainpower)
aquilaFiera 12y ago
I wrote an Alfred workflow for Focus a while back. Not sure if it works with the premium version but it does work with the alpha builds that you can still download. https://github.com/btholt/alfred-workflows https://github.com/btholt/alfred-workflows
prottmann 12y ago
Steal back your productivity - covored on lifehacker ;)
zerop 12y ago
If you have to use tools to stop you from getting distracted, then something is wrong. Mostly your job does not excite you anymore.
- kmfrk 12y ago
  I think we all like to think that, but it’s worked well for me in the past, when I had a school paper or something with a nasty deadline. I used Freedom (https://macfreedom.com https://macfreedom.com) for that. EDIT: However, these things work less and less, the more computers we own; where we used to have just a laptop and maybe a desktop, we now have smartphones and tablets - with push notifications - so unless you have a full Apple set-up with global blocking, it's decreasingly effective. And managing a blacklist router-side is a chore.
volent 12y ago
20$ for this simple app seems high to me. Is it really that valuable to some people ? Maybe I just didn't read enough articles titled "Why you should double the price of your SAAS product." but even 10$ seems high.
- ekianjo 12y ago
  Value is elastic. I agree this is super high for what this does, though. It does not take so much code to do the same thing. And that kind of stuff used to be freeware before. Just saying.
haar 12y ago
I've found the easiest way to focus is to 'trick' my mind into thinking it'll only be working for 25 minutes. I use the Pomodoro app[0] (and I love the metronome) with the original intent that at least this way I will be doing some work, even if it's 25-on, 5-off. What I usually find is that after I get in the groove for 25 minutes, I'm far enough into a problem that I want to work through it - and work away as I'd originally hoped I could. [0]: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pomodoroapp-simple-pomodoro/id705103149?mt=12 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pomodoroapp-simple-pomodoro/...
- michaelx386 12y ago
  There's a variation on the Pomodoro technique which has been working well for me. It was recommended by a Pomodoro program I use called Tomate[0] which defaults to a minimum 10 minute timer instead of 25 minutes: > The rationale is that the hardest part of working is getting at it. Past the first ten minutes, continuing to work is far easier. So you only have to commit to the first ten minutes, your motivation should do the rest. [0]: https://gitorious.org/tomate/pages/Home https://gitorious.org/tomate/pages/Home
ars 12y ago
LeechBlock (for firefox) is free, configurable and does this too. http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/ You can do the XKCD option and make it simply slow you down, but not actually block you. http://xkcd.com/862/ http://xkcd.com/862/
- Jasber 12y ago
  LeechBlock is great, but Focus works with all browsers and all apps and has much bigger ambitions!
ivanhoe 12y ago
Blocking distractions is ok, but this is a bit like having yourself locked in a house, without a key. It might make you more focused on work, but what if your house catches on fire? Sometimes you need to quickly lookup something, ask a question or reach out to someone, and this app will not let you pause it.
- imron 12y ago
  Yes it does. Just don't set it to 'hardcore' mode. (not affiliated with the app, but I've been using it since it was first featured on HN [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760], and have found it to be useful).
  - ivanhoe 12y ago
    dunno, but description on the site says: "But be careful, with scheduling, Focus cannot be undone until the time is up (even if you remove or uninstall the app)."
Htsthbjig 12y ago
I think the best you can do to your productivity is to develop the routine of working, not trying to force yourself not doing something like visiting Facebook. When my brothers got bad grades on school, my parents took away the games console, but my brothers started playing on friend's houses, so my parents forbade them to go out, so they used the computer(the one supposed to be for working) to communicate and spent most of the time there. You can block anything and you will stare at the wall dreaming away. If your body does not want to work(for example if you try to work so much that you exhaust your body without time off) your body wont work at all no matter how hard you try(burn out). The unconscious does not know about negatives. Do not focus on what you want not to do, but on what you want to do. Also, take it very seriously taking breaks and resting. Most people in IT overextend and get burned.
- pi-err 12y ago
  Agreed, being present is _the_ thing. You don't get there in a day though. In my experience, working on a screen blurs my awareness at some point and I can fall in limbo even when I least expect it. Even after days of flow. If you want to improve your kick-boxing and find it hard to actually commit to get there, it helps to prepare your bag in advance, with clean and ready gear in it so you don't have to hesitate when you want to go. So I see those focus cheats as the online equivalent. It helps my flow because if I slip on some link, I'll have a nice reminder to her back to awareness. I use Delay (Safari extension) which doesn't alllow to set a timer - it's either on or off. This looks better- feels like preparing my Mac for sparring.
- Jasber 12y ago
  Hello, creator of Focus here and I 100% agree. Focus isn't meant to force you to work. Focus is meant to provide an environment that's not distracting on your computer. That's it. The same way you might clean your desk before you start work. Or go to a coffee shop. Or go sit in a chair with a pad and a pen. When you really want to get work done, you want to be able to minimize distractions. You can't really do that on your computer since distractions are 1-click away (not to mention interruptions). Focus is an experiment in improving your productivity by building good habits, and blocking distracting stuff is the very first step. Lots more is planned!
diegolo 12y ago
sudo pico /etc/hosts add: 127.0.0.1 facebook.com 127.0.0.1 twitter.com etc etc.. done.
- ekianjo 12y ago
  You deserve 20 dollars!
  - oneeyedpigeon 12y ago
    Except that the list isn't configurable, it doesn't obey a schedule, doesn't work on a timer, doesn't serve up the cutesy quotes, and this entire method is unsuitable for most users. I agree that the app in question is quite pricey for what it does, but to claim it's literally no more than a few entries in /etc/hosts is severely undervaluing the obvious effort that's gone into packaging that core concept up into a user-friendly whole.
- js-coder 12y ago
  Is there a way to block Skype like that?
- kornakiewicz 12y ago
  I'll try to write a script for easier managing this (timer, repo of popular websites etc.)
theneb 12y ago
I understand this is a product for those who like a nice UI, but for those of us happy in the terminal: https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done
- aragot 12y ago
  Yes, exactly, both tools are a wrapper around blocking websites in /etc/hosts. I can understand non-programmers may want a UI, but on the other hand it's dangerous to install more and more apps on a machine, especially if they're auto-updated and from third-party.
practicalpants 12y ago
It's not justifiable to charge for this, IMO, and I imagine anyone savvy enough to consider purchasing a browser add-on will know this. I'd be willing to share it if it were for free since the branding is not bad. Otherwise, I'm a tad annoyed something so simple is not free, especially given there are free alternates.
- zo1 12y ago
  At least they didn't use a .io domain, that would have been even more ridiculous/cliche at this point. But that's just my opinion, and you have yours. Someone else might have a completely different opinion of being very keen on paying whatever it is this site charges. The most we can do is point out free/better alternatives (if there are any) and let people make an informed decision for themselves based on their personal wants/needs... And we mustn't get angered at them, no matter how much we view our opinion on the matter as being superior to theirs.
cube00 12y ago
From the site: "But be careful, with scheduling, Focus cannot be undone until the time is up (even if you remove or uninstall the app)." Does anyone know what it leaves behind on my machine to achieve that?
- martin-adams 12y ago
  Maybe it edits the hosts file to block the sites or something, which would need the app to undo
- tobylane 12y ago
  These things usually edit the HOSTS file, but this one proxies everything (including non-browser and https). http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/ http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/ (or sudo nano /private/etc/hosts) https://github.com/bradjasper/focus https://github.com/bradjasper/focus
- Jasber 12y ago
  The primary way Focus blocks stuff is via an Automatic Proxy Configuration (PAC) file. It's located in System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies -> Automatic Proxy Configuration.
sireat 12y ago
I generally use hosts file(ie blacklist), but been experimenting with writing your own proxy scripts (ie whitelist). I really like the whitelist idea and proxy scripts are dead simple to write(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_auto-config http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_auto-config). The problem is that even a site like Stack Overflow loads its CSS and JS libs from other non SO locations such as CDNs. So you end up spending a bit of time setting up each whitelisted site which of course is time spent procrastinating.
vshan 12y ago
I'd like to share my anecdotal experience. In all these years where I've tried to block Facebook, Reddit, Quora, etc... I've found that I just move to another "time-wasting" site. The absolute best way that I prevented procrastination was by developing some hobbies that are less addictive. Even though I am quite older than the target audience, I have a Pokemon game and a DS, which I pick up whenever I feel like not working. I play it for 15-20 minutes and I'm ready to get back to work. Before that, it was learning about some new programming language. The hobby needs to be gratifying and challenging to prevent addiction. My two cents.
dang 12y ago
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760

41 points by danboarder 12y ago

Here's an open source alternative: https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/ https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/

suyash 12y ago
+1 for Open source software
leviathan 12y ago
The application itself does seem to be open source https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus
inDigiNeous 12y ago
+1 for Self Control. Does the same thing, is free.
vostrocity 12y ago
Does anyone have UI issues with SelfControl? I run SelfControl on a schedule using AppleScript and cron but often the program will get stuck (clicking SelfControl's UI button will do nothing). If anyone has a better way to automatically block internet access at set times (without using the router), let me know.
ElCapitanMarkla 12y ago
I came here to say this, it's great
dyadic 12y ago
I use Self Control occasionally, but it does sometimes block things that are not on the blacklist†. I hit this problem once. I was working on integrating some software with a public API when Self Control blocked access to the same API. Fortunately I'd only set the timer for a short while so I just had to wait it out. † https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/wiki/FAQ#q-other-sites-i-didnt-list-are-getting-blocked-why https://github.com/SelfControlApp/selfcontrol/wiki/FAQ#q-oth...

igvadaimon 12y ago

There is also this chrome App: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankejkbhbdhmipfmgcngdelahlfoji https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/stayfocusd/laankej...

rgawdzik 12y ago

So how does licensing work considering it's on github? https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus https://github.com/bradjasper/Focus

ekianjo 12y ago
I guess it's some kind of Open Source license then. Since it's on a public github repo.
- ash 12y ago
  No. When you can read a book, it doesn't mean you have rights to distribute its text or create derivative work. "What happens if I don't choose a license? …Generally speaking, the absence of a license means that the default copyright laws apply. This means that you retain all rights to your source code and that nobody else may reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from your work." https://help.github.com/articles/open-source-licensing/ https://help.github.com/articles/open-source-licensing/
  - ekianjo 12y ago
    What happens when you fork then? Copyright infringement?
    - ash 12y ago
      GitHub Terms of Service apply in this case. Specifically: "We claim no intellectual property rights over the material you provide to the Service. Your profile and materials uploaded remain yours. However, by setting your pages to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view your Content. By setting your repositories to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view and fork your repositories." https://help.github.com/articles/github-terms-of-service/ https://help.github.com/articles/github-terms-of-service/
      - ekianjo 12y ago
        I know and I have seen that before, but what happens when you fork copyrighted content then ?

hobo_mark 12y ago

I used to be into this sort of tools, but in the end: - simply logging off from said websites accomplishes the same, even if you instinctively type fac <enter> (sometimes it's a barely conscious reflex), you'll just see a login screen - if you are REALLY so tired that the only thing you can get your brain to do is to aimlessly wander back and forth between these websites, it just means your day is over, no amount of restraint or stimulants will be as effective as just going to do something else to recharge your willpower (and brainpower)

aquilaFiera 12y ago

I wrote an Alfred workflow for Focus a while back. Not sure if it works with the premium version but it does work with the alpha builds that you can still download. https://github.com/btholt/alfred-workflows https://github.com/btholt/alfred-workflows

prottmann 12y ago

Steal back your productivity - covored on lifehacker ;)

zerop 12y ago

If you have to use tools to stop you from getting distracted, then something is wrong. Mostly your job does not excite you anymore.

kmfrk 12y ago
I think we all like to think that, but it’s worked well for me in the past, when I had a school paper or something with a nasty deadline. I used Freedom (https://macfreedom.com https://macfreedom.com) for that. EDIT: However, these things work less and less, the more computers we own; where we used to have just a laptop and maybe a desktop, we now have smartphones and tablets - with push notifications - so unless you have a full Apple set-up with global blocking, it's decreasingly effective. And managing a blacklist router-side is a chore.

volent 12y ago

20$ for this simple app seems high to me. Is it really that valuable to some people ? Maybe I just didn't read enough articles titled "Why you should double the price of your SAAS product." but even 10$ seems high.

ekianjo 12y ago
Value is elastic. I agree this is super high for what this does, though. It does not take so much code to do the same thing. And that kind of stuff used to be freeware before. Just saying.

haar 12y ago

I've found the easiest way to focus is to 'trick' my mind into thinking it'll only be working for 25 minutes. I use the Pomodoro app[0] (and I love the metronome) with the original intent that at least this way I will be doing some work, even if it's 25-on, 5-off. What I usually find is that after I get in the groove for 25 minutes, I'm far enough into a problem that I want to work through it - and work away as I'd originally hoped I could. [0]: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pomodoroapp-simple-pomodoro/id705103149?mt=12 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/pomodoroapp-simple-pomodoro/...

michaelx386 12y ago
There's a variation on the Pomodoro technique which has been working well for me. It was recommended by a Pomodoro program I use called Tomate[0] which defaults to a minimum 10 minute timer instead of 25 minutes: > The rationale is that the hardest part of working is getting at it. Past the first ten minutes, continuing to work is far easier. So you only have to commit to the first ten minutes, your motivation should do the rest. [0]: https://gitorious.org/tomate/pages/Home https://gitorious.org/tomate/pages/Home

ars 12y ago

LeechBlock (for firefox) is free, configurable and does this too. http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html http://www.proginosko.com/leechblock.html https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/leechblock/ You can do the XKCD option and make it simply slow you down, but not actually block you. http://xkcd.com/862/ http://xkcd.com/862/

Jasber 12y ago
LeechBlock is great, but Focus works with all browsers and all apps and has much bigger ambitions!

ivanhoe 12y ago

Blocking distractions is ok, but this is a bit like having yourself locked in a house, without a key. It might make you more focused on work, but what if your house catches on fire? Sometimes you need to quickly lookup something, ask a question or reach out to someone, and this app will not let you pause it.

imron 12y ago
Yes it does. Just don't set it to 'hardcore' mode. (not affiliated with the app, but I've been using it since it was first featured on HN [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760], and have found it to be useful).
- ivanhoe 12y ago
  dunno, but description on the site says: "But be careful, with scheduling, Focus cannot be undone until the time is up (even if you remove or uninstall the app)."

Htsthbjig 12y ago

I think the best you can do to your productivity is to develop the routine of working, not trying to force yourself not doing something like visiting Facebook. When my brothers got bad grades on school, my parents took away the games console, but my brothers started playing on friend's houses, so my parents forbade them to go out, so they used the computer(the one supposed to be for working) to communicate and spent most of the time there. You can block anything and you will stare at the wall dreaming away. If your body does not want to work(for example if you try to work so much that you exhaust your body without time off) your body wont work at all no matter how hard you try(burn out). The unconscious does not know about negatives. Do not focus on what you want not to do, but on what you want to do. Also, take it very seriously taking breaks and resting. Most people in IT overextend and get burned.

pi-err 12y ago
Agreed, being present is _the_ thing. You don't get there in a day though. In my experience, working on a screen blurs my awareness at some point and I can fall in limbo even when I least expect it. Even after days of flow. If you want to improve your kick-boxing and find it hard to actually commit to get there, it helps to prepare your bag in advance, with clean and ready gear in it so you don't have to hesitate when you want to go. So I see those focus cheats as the online equivalent. It helps my flow because if I slip on some link, I'll have a nice reminder to her back to awareness. I use Delay (Safari extension) which doesn't alllow to set a timer - it's either on or off. This looks better- feels like preparing my Mac for sparring.
Jasber 12y ago
Hello, creator of Focus here and I 100% agree. Focus isn't meant to force you to work. Focus is meant to provide an environment that's not distracting on your computer. That's it. The same way you might clean your desk before you start work. Or go to a coffee shop. Or go sit in a chair with a pad and a pen. When you really want to get work done, you want to be able to minimize distractions. You can't really do that on your computer since distractions are 1-click away (not to mention interruptions). Focus is an experiment in improving your productivity by building good habits, and blocking distracting stuff is the very first step. Lots more is planned!

diegolo 12y ago

sudo pico /etc/hosts add: 127.0.0.1 facebook.com 127.0.0.1 twitter.com etc etc.. done.

ekianjo 12y ago
You deserve 20 dollars!
- oneeyedpigeon 12y ago
  Except that the list isn't configurable, it doesn't obey a schedule, doesn't work on a timer, doesn't serve up the cutesy quotes, and this entire method is unsuitable for most users. I agree that the app in question is quite pricey for what it does, but to claim it's literally no more than a few entries in /etc/hosts is severely undervaluing the obvious effort that's gone into packaging that core concept up into a user-friendly whole.
js-coder 12y ago
Is there a way to block Skype like that?
kornakiewicz 12y ago
I'll try to write a script for easier managing this (timer, repo of popular websites etc.)

theneb 12y ago

I understand this is a product for those who like a nice UI, but for those of us happy in the terminal: https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done

aragot 12y ago
Yes, exactly, both tools are a wrapper around blocking websites in /etc/hosts. I can understand non-programmers may want a UI, but on the other hand it's dangerous to install more and more apps on a machine, especially if they're auto-updated and from third-party.

practicalpants 12y ago

It's not justifiable to charge for this, IMO, and I imagine anyone savvy enough to consider purchasing a browser add-on will know this. I'd be willing to share it if it were for free since the branding is not bad. Otherwise, I'm a tad annoyed something so simple is not free, especially given there are free alternates.

zo1 12y ago
At least they didn't use a .io domain, that would have been even more ridiculous/cliche at this point. But that's just my opinion, and you have yours. Someone else might have a completely different opinion of being very keen on paying whatever it is this site charges. The most we can do is point out free/better alternatives (if there are any) and let people make an informed decision for themselves based on their personal wants/needs... And we mustn't get angered at them, no matter how much we view our opinion on the matter as being superior to theirs.

cube00 12y ago

From the site: "But be careful, with scheduling, Focus cannot be undone until the time is up (even if you remove or uninstall the app)." Does anyone know what it leaves behind on my machine to achieve that?

martin-adams 12y ago
Maybe it edits the hosts file to block the sites or something, which would need the app to undo
tobylane 12y ago
These things usually edit the HOSTS file, but this one proxies everything (including non-browser and https). http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/ http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/ (or sudo nano /private/etc/hosts) https://github.com/bradjasper/focus https://github.com/bradjasper/focus
Jasber 12y ago
The primary way Focus blocks stuff is via an Automatic Proxy Configuration (PAC) file. It's located in System Preferences -> Network -> Advanced -> Proxies -> Automatic Proxy Configuration.

sireat 12y ago

I generally use hosts file(ie blacklist), but been experimenting with writing your own proxy scripts (ie whitelist). I really like the whitelist idea and proxy scripts are dead simple to write(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_auto-config http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_auto-config). The problem is that even a site like Stack Overflow loads its CSS and JS libs from other non SO locations such as CDNs. So you end up spending a bit of time setting up each whitelisted site which of course is time spent procrastinating.

vshan 12y ago

I'd like to share my anecdotal experience. In all these years where I've tried to block Facebook, Reddit, Quora, etc... I've found that I just move to another "time-wasting" site. The absolute best way that I prevented procrastination was by developing some hobbies that are less addictive. Even though I am quite older than the target audience, I have a Pokemon game and a DS, which I pick up whenever I feel like not working. I play it for 15-20 minutes and I'm ready to get back to work. Before that, it was learning about some new programming language. The hobby needs to be gratifying and challenging to prevent addiction. My two cents.

dang 12y ago

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7214760