Friday, January 14, 2011

Meet Flowkeeper, a new open-source software timer for Pomodoro Technique

I want to present you the very first version of Flowkeeper - yet another free software timer for Pomodoro Technique. Initially it was designed as a desktop UI for Pomodoro Server - my another project supporting teamwork for PT. Despite the almost-ready-for-production state of the latter one, I decided to implement both online and offline modes in Flowkeeper, and release offline-only version first. So here it is, ready for download :)

Some of its features:
  • Your plans are persistent and can be viewed after the program is closed;
  • Configurable timer sounds and system tray notifications;
  • Some basic single-day statistics;
  • Supported platforms: Windows (with installer), Linux KDE, Linux Gnome (no system tray), MacOS (reported, but no details yet);
I am pretty ambitious about this project. Here are some of the features to be included in the next version, just to name a few:
  • New multiplatform installer;
  • Activity Inventory;
  • Better statistics;
  • Source code will be published on SourceForge;
So, keep tuned and don't hesitate to contact me.
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25 comments:

  1. The ThinkerMarch 4, 2011 at 6:09 PM

    I want to thank you! I waste time by looking for the perfect productivity tool (not a joke, I'm just being honest here to explain why I have seen SO many of them whether free or purchased). I LOVE this timer and am in a Pomodoro right now to make sure I don't spend too much time browsing after this post. There are three things about this that I encourage you not to change: 1)first thing I see forces me to "Plan for __" my day and consider the bigger picture -- something I know I should do, but don't, 2)creating a task also forces me to estimate the time it will take -- another thing I am notoriously bad at doing, and 3)the data/ability to look back will help me match my imagining of the day to the reality of the day.

    Thanks again. Even the little bubble messages that pop up when the time is up are well said.

    ReplyDelete
  2. ConstantineMarch 4, 2011 at 10:39 PM

    Hello, The Thinker :)

    I'm glad you liked the Flowkeeper, please keep me informed if you want me to change something.

    [offtopic] I thought about those usability features... For every project I've done so far those are like one of the most important but severely underestimated bits. Although it is not Pareto-like 80:20 law, but I'd say it still takes something like 50% of time just to polish the application after the basic functionality has been implemented. To be brutally honest, I think that Flowkeeper could have been better from this standpoint and I released it slightly raw this time. [/offtopic]

    Although I don't think the new version will come out very soon (I'm quite busy with my current math studies), I planned few quite cool enhancements that you might like as well, so keep tuned, and have a nice Pomodoro :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. DennisMay 7, 2011 at 3:44 PM

    Nice!! Keep up the good work. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Amy SnivelyAugust 6, 2011 at 8:38 AM

    Hi Constantine! I'm loving a lot of Flowkeeper so far. But is there some help documentation for it somewhere?

    *How do I delete or edit an item on my to-do list?

    *How do I reduce the number of pomodoros allotted to a task (if I've accidentally added too many)?

    *What does the little red exclamation mark mean?

    *What does the pushpin do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CorinaOctober 3, 2012 at 9:04 PM

      I share Amy questions and ask for the possibility to end a pomodoro earlier.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousAugust 21, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Hello, love the app. Good work. The ability to tie the pomodoro session to a specific goal is super.

    Maybe I am missing something but I was wondering whether there is a way to keep sounds on (ie have an alarm at the end) but turn off the ticking. Am I able to do this?

    Anyway, thanks again. Excellent stuff.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownAugust 24, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    I'm the editor of an iPhone-related magazine and in the next issue we have a couple of pages about the Pomodoro Technique on iPhone. I think your app is very nice: may I put it on the CD-ROM which is distributed with the magazine?

    --
    Nicola D'Agostino
    www.nicoladagostino.net
    pr (at) nicoladagostino (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  7. mikkaOctober 16, 2011 at 3:51 PM

    Hello, I use your app extensively.
    In my opinion, that's the best pomodoro app I've ever used.
    But us I've updated my OS (kubuntu) I've lost the app in the jar format.
    To date that is not longer available for download on your site. I see you're issuing the new release of that, but I'd ask if in the meanwhile you could make available the old version.

    Thanks a lot

    Michel

    michelcozzolino@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. kalitsovOctober 21, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Hi, i like the idea of your app but i think it needs some additional developer attention. Just a few more steps, configurations and statistics. I could help you maintain it and further develop it. If you are interested, please contact me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. RozitamOctober 21, 2011 at 9:20 PM

    Hi,
    I would like to contact you and asking about that.

    ReplyDelete
  10. RozitamOctober 21, 2011 at 9:21 PM

    would you please contact me.
    thanks,

    ReplyDelete
  11. nilo de roockNovember 10, 2011 at 1:48 PM

    It seems you have no time / interest to further develop Flowkeeper. Publish the scourcode. Please.

    ReplyDelete
  12. edyoongJanuary 5, 2012 at 12:39 PM

    I love it! The best pomodoro app so far.

    ReplyDelete
  13. nafgAugust 1, 2012 at 10:16 AM

    Hi, please make the source code available!
    I really enjoy it, but I wouldn't mind tweaking it a bit.
    The tray icon's resolution is too low (pixelated) on my computer (KDE). Also, I don't hear any sound.
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  14. John MDecember 10, 2012 at 11:26 PM

    I second making the source code available.

    ReplyDelete
  15. UnknownFebruary 1, 2013 at 10:47 PM

    The title of this blog post is that it's "open-source"; do you think you could release the source? The tool seems to be great, but there are definitely some tweaks that need to be made. Currently the software's sound options are not working on my install (Linux Mint 14). I would love to look into fixing this.

    THanks.

    ReplyDelete
  16. drama freeApril 26, 2013 at 6:07 PM

    I want you to know that I have tried many pomodoro softwares-Yours is the simplest and most efficient.
    Thank you very much.
    Stelio

    ReplyDelete
  17. DanielJuly 9, 2013 at 1:39 AM

    I third asking for code. I want to quiet tic tac, but leaving end sound

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Zhxiang XieMarch 6, 2014 at 7:15 AM

      I have quiet tic tac without touch the source code.
      You need to prepare a quiet wave file, and save as tick.wav
      And the replace the tick.wav of Flowkeeper.jar.

      Delete
  18. Federico FissoreJanuary 30, 2014 at 2:36 PM

    I would like the code as well. Some reports of the past days would be nice

    ReplyDelete
  19. UnknownMay 16, 2014 at 8:19 PM

    Hello, amazing software but I have an doubt. I have two computers. One for my work and one for my home office.
    Well, i need to share the database of this application in this two computers but i don't know where the database of the program :)
    Thanks for you hard work :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. drama freeOctober 28, 2015 at 1:42 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  21. drama freeOctober 28, 2015 at 1:46 PM

    FEATURE REQUEST:

    Hi there. Beautiful little piece of software. I use it all the time.:) Fascinating. It's amazing how Flowkeeper can improve my productivity!

    Could you please consider adding the following feature in Flowkeeper's settings?:

    Can you please add a feature in the settings that will 'block the screen' when in break?
    This feature is needed as we need Flowkeeper to force us to take a break *away* from the computer screen and be able to take a breath, and rest for a while.

    The other request although of lessen importance, is for flowkeeper to be able to have some progress graph/chart showing the number of pomodoros accomplished per day/monthy

    NB.
    I don't mind paying a couple of dollars for the above feature.

    Thanking you in advance for this wonderful little piece of software,

    best regards to your family,

    Stello

    ReplyDelete
  22. amreshJanuary 23, 2016 at 9:57 PM

    bring it back man , it's so cool

    ReplyDelete
  23. amreshJanuary 23, 2016 at 9:58 PM

    bring it back man , it's so cool

    ReplyDelete

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