A time tracking tool
While I was waiting for Django 1.0 to be released, I wanted to quickly learn to develop desktop applications. I preferred it to be on Python so that I can continue to learn the language. I did an evaluation of different options and settled on IronPython.
As a consultant, there is always a need to submit timesheets. By the end of the day/week, it is difficult to remember the tasks done during that time-span (day/week). If somehow a tool can capture applications that were worked on, then it will help.
So I developed an application for the same.
This application polls the active window at an interval of 5 seconds and captures the application details (application name and the application title) and the time spent on each of these tasks.
It can be minimized into systray so that it can continue to capture details without any disturbance (first icon).
One can download the details on the grid as a csv file too.
Currently thats all in there. As I continue to use (and probably get some feedback) I will continue to enhance it.
The project is hosted in Google. One can download the executable and the source.
Reader Comments
Eh…Why’d you write an application to do this, when there are so many applications available for it? Take a look at Slife, at http://www.slifelabs.com/. It’s free.
John: I wanted to learn to develop desktop applications and that was the primary motive behind developing this tool. ‘Time Tracking’ came to my mind and I went ahead with it.
BTW: slife is still not available for windows.
Thank you for your comment.
Hi Joseph,
Cheers,
This is very interesting. I will install it on my machine and give you my feedback.
However, I hope my boss does not come to know about this
Salil
While TSheets may not track specific applications that you’re working on, it is an excellent time tracking application with multiple job codes and breakouts that make billing clients and keeping track of your own time a snap.
Working on small personal projects like this one is a great way to improve your skills. And sometimes you get the added bonus of those sidecar projects becoming something bigger. Kudos to you for going for it.
How did you compile source?
Did you use VS add-in to build this ?