[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-devel
Subject:    Time tracking applet prototype.
From:       Sean Pecor <sean () digitalspinner ! com>
Date:       2001-11-30 16:52:57
[Download RAW message or body]

Hey folks,

I've started work on a prototype applet I've tentatively labled "Kime", which 
so far does the following:

1. Maintains a timer for each window (active and historical).

2. Active window's timer runs until another window receives focus; the old 
active window's elapsed time is added to a historical total for that window.

3. Retires a timer for a given window when that window's title changes (i.e., 
from "Google.com" to "Someotherwebsite.com"), then registers a new timer for 
the window's id.

4. Kicker panel contents shows the title of the current window, plus the 
total elapsed time (current elapsed plus historical elapsed time). For 
example, right now I see 3.4 minutes for "Time tracking applet prototype" in 
the applet panel.

5. Status button brings up a master list of all windows (active and 
historical) with the time spent in each.

Along with general bells and whistles, my specific goals for the applet are 
the following:

1. Keep track of all tasks (windows) for the day. Note how much time is spent 
in each window (by monitoring window focus, other factors).

2. Support the assignment of each task to a registered activity (examples: 
"System Administration", "Entertainment", "XYZ Company Web Site", "ABC, Inc. 
Intranet", "General Programming", etc.).

3. Through default and user defined filters I'd like assignments to be 
semi-automatically made. So, for example, a user could create a filter that 
would assign any window caption that contained "/mnt/sites/abcintranet.com" 
to a default assignment of the activity "ABC, Inc. Intranet". Something 
comparable to Kmail's filter system although somewhat less complex. 

OR:

3. In a time assignment dialog, each entry could be weighed against previous 
assignments. A list of possible assignments would appear, ordered by how 
closely the current caption matches previous captions. So, if I made a 
previous assignment of "ABC, Inc. Intranet" to a caption 
containing"/mnt/sites/abcintranet", then that might be the default assignment 
for a new time assignment entry with the caption 
"/mnt/sites/abcintranet/file.html". Perhaps this feature in combination with 
the first (3) would be the best thing.

4. Provide a time reporting function that can export to CSV, submit to a 
Mysql database, etc., the time entries for a given time period.

Possible uses:

1. For me, a better way to track my time throughout the day. Also interesting 
to find out how much of my day/week/month is spent programming, designing, 
emailing, etc. I'd like it to feed into my existing project management app.

2. Usability testing. Find out how much time is spent in setup, toolbars, 
text windows, etc. 

3. Productivity enhancement. Maybe if you see a report indicating you've 
spent 10% of your work week goofing off at Entertainment sites, it can serve 
as a wake up call :). 

Once I put more time into the prototype, draft a spec sheet, I'll post it at 
Sourceforge. Is anyone else interested in this type of project? I'm a first 
time KDE developer, so I'd love some guidance, someone to point out / correct 
bad programming mistakes :).

Sean.

-- 
Digital Spinner, Inc.
Cutting edge web design and applications development.
http://www.digitalspinner.com
Phone: 802.948.2020
Fax: 802.948.2749

>> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to unsubscribe <<

[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]