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Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

wakana.io

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Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#11

Post by Klaster_1 »

echoangle wrote: post #9
Diti wrote: post #8

Why does such a tool need an API and an external connection? I use `arbtt`, which is local-only.

> Why does such a tool need an API and an external connection? So time spent on different devices can be tracked under a single user account, I guess.

This problem exists indeed and I encounter it from time to time when I switch between desktop and laptop. My time tracking tool [0] is local-only and I still didn't come up with a solution that lets it remain so and a PWA at the same time. Solutions that allow you to sync data without a dedicated server (as in running specifically for your app needs) range from trivial ones like storing the data in a Google Drive all the way to P2P.

[0] https://github.com/Klaster1/timer-5

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#13

Post by jemiluv8 »

airstrike wrote: post #6

Home page says: > Copy and paste this into your ~/.wakatime.cfg file [settings] api_url = https://api.wakana.io/api api_key = ## replace this with your api key when you login From the FAQ: > This is a self-hosted version of wakatime.com that is open source and free to use. We rely on the same open source plugins and collect the same data that is available from wakatime's open source plugins. Naturally this being FOSS…

I agree. There is a lot that is not on the homepage. I’d welcome any contributions. I barely managed to put together a decent homepage.

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#14

Post by jemiluv8 »

Klaster_1 wrote: post #11
echoangle wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Why does such a tool need an API and an external connection? So time spent on different devices can be tracked under a single user account, I guess.

This problem exists indeed and I encounter it from time to time when I switch between desktop and laptop. My time tracking tool [0] is local-only and I still didn't come up with a solution that lets it remain so and a PWA at the same time. Solutions that allow you to sync data without a dedicated server (as in running specifically for your app needs) range from trivial ones like storing the data in a Google Drive all…

Ideally a tool like this should be a desktop app. But people tend to use multiple devices or even change their devices and then the question of data migration comes in.

It also helps to be able to access these stats anywhere instead of just on the device it is installed on.

Eventually, this can become a hybrid. But the expedient solution is what we have now.

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#15

Post by jemiluv8 »

xnx wrote: post #5

Hoping someone can change the title to something like "Shown HN: Wakana - Open source wakatime alternative"

This is embarrassing. At the time I was making the post, HN kept rejecting it and the title became shorter and shorter with every try. I am trying to edit the title now without much success. Thanks for the suggestion. It would’ve helped people know what it was about better than the current title

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#17

Post by jemiluv8 »

botanical76 wrote: post #16
jemiluv8 wrote: post #4

Let me know if anyone has challenges setting up.

When trying to login via GitHub, I was redirected to " https://wakana.io/login?error=An+unexpected+error+occurred+w... ", without an error message being displayed.

Try the email otp for now.

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#18

Post by spacechild1 »

jemiluv8 wrote: post #15
xnx wrote: post #5

Hoping someone can change the title to something like "Shown HN: Wakana - Open source wakatime alternative"

This is embarrassing. At the time I was making the post, HN kept rejecting it and the title became shorter and shorter with every try. I am trying to edit the title now without much success. Thanks for the suggestion. It would’ve helped people know what it was about better than the current title

The missing title happens to be quite effective click bait, so I would keep it :)

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#19

Post by neilv »

WakaTime offers business/enterprise licensing, where self-improvement/introspection suddenly looks exactly like corporate task management, employee surveillance, and performance metrics.

So, "leaderboard" (fun!) becomes "stack-ranking" (vicious!).

How do you see Wakana positioned and used, in practice?

* Will it be used by the individual for self-improvement and time management?

* Will metrics-crazed companies use it to whip-crack employees?

* Will even a non-corporate leaderboard/ranking be twisted and gamed for self-promotion?

Re: Show HN: An open source alternative to Wakatime

#20

Post by jemiluv8 »

neilv wrote: post #19

WakaTime offers business/enterprise licensing, where self-improvement/introspection suddenly looks exactly like corporate task management, employee surveillance, and performance metrics. So, "leaderboard" (fun!) becomes "stack-ranking" (vicious!). How do you see Wakana positioned and used, in practice? * Will it be used by the individual for self-improvement and time management? * Will metrics-crazed companies use it…

I share your sentiments as a developer. That was one of my motivations for starting work on this. I wanted developers to decide and develop some of these metrics. I am not sure how exactly that looks like and I am hoping open source will help in figuring that out. In the meantime please check the faq. Developer productivity is not something that can be measured with simple metrics like time spent coding.
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