I’m self employed. I need to record how much time I spend on whatever task for whatever client.

Sounds simple, but I’m terrible at it. I always get to the end of the day without having recorded anything and not knowing what I’ve actually done.

Basically, I’d like to create a text log of the active window title, and take a screen cap.

I’d like to do this periodically as in every 15 minutes or so.

For the text log I just haven’t been able to achieve this at all.

For the screen caps I can use flameshot to take a screenshot from the CLI, but it makes a sound and shows an animation which is sub-optimal.

Any suggestions of where to look much appreciated.

Edit: I’m not asking for a time tracking app. I want something to log the active window title and take a screen cap so I can figure out what I was doing and write it in my time tracking app.

Edit: I’m narrowing in on a solution.

Firstly, a lot of previously available solutions don’t work because of recently implemented security features in gnome.

You need to enter unsafe mode by entering this:

global.context.unsafe_mode = true

in the looking glass tool which you can access by running lg in the alt + f2 dialog

thereafter, this can grab the active window title for you:

gdbus call --session --dest org.gnome.Shell --object-path /org/gnome/Shell --method org.gnome.Shell.Eval "global.display.focus_window.title"
  • Eugenia@lemmy.mlEnglish
    25·
    17 hours ago

    There’s nothing like you ask. Most time tracker apps are just a calendar where you write manually how much time you spent on something. So you can use something like Kimai, or use a paper calendar and write on it.

    But text log of the active window and a screencap, that’s the stuff of Microsoft Recall AI nightmares that Linux developers wouldn’t be keen to implement. What you’re asking is intrusive AI for others. Maybe you need to actually learn to be punctual and write down your activities, or simply, buy a Snapdragon laptop with Windows AI on it. And even then, that info stays with the AI, I don’t think it’s shared much with the user.

    • null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.comOPEnglish
      8·
      15 hours ago

      Most time tracker apps

      That’s not what I asked for.

      use a paper calendar and write on it.

      You don’t really understand time tracking, I see.

      But text log of the active window and a screencap, that’s the stuff of Microsoft Recall AI nightmares

      How is logging the title of the active window an AI nightmare ?

      the stuff of Microsoft Recall AI nightmares that Linux developers wouldn’t be keen to implement

      Like this you mean? Yes, surely that doesn’t exist.

      Maybe you need to actually learn to be punctual and write down your activities

      Maybe you need to try being… a bit less of a dick ?

      buy a Snapdragon laptop with Windows AI on it

      Kinda speechless at this one. Well done.