Devlog #2

Additions

• Added a train node and scene that moves along the preplaced track nodes
• The train moves toward a target exit or middle node until it can no longer go straight or it falls off the edge
• The train uses the chunk nodes as waypoints, going from exit node to middle node then whichever exit node is chosen
• The train defaults to going straight until it cannot. Once it cannot go straight it filters all exits removing exits you came from or lead nowhere
• If there are no available directions, it moves to the end of the last node before stopping and falling off the edge

Planned Updates

• Adding player input so you can control which direction the train goes
• Adding indicators that show the default path for the train without any inputs. If input is given the train and indicator should move properly
• Adding more things that happen when trains arrive at stations
• And a lot more stuff

What was the goal

• My main goal was to add a train and design the default path so it automatically starts and begins progressing throughout the default track. I had a lot of the foundation set that made it so I could use the nodes and they could move through the nodes. I had to make sure that there were conditions that made sure they could check to see if the exits lead to another chunk or just the void. The hard part was if a four-way was connected to a horizontal without a direct path but the train still moves over the void to the chunk. I had to check the chunk nodes and exits for the following neighbor chunks also to make sure it was a valid chunk, which took a while to troubleshoot. I want to next try and create more junctions and the default path indicator using arrows. Right now the path is generated as the train moves but if I wanted to set the indicators, I would have to premake the default path, which would also require some more time and work.

Devlog #1

Additions

• Added three basic train layouts (four-way intersection, vertical intersection, and horizontal intersection)
• Added a train end and start station
• Created a randomly generated network of tracks comprising of the three basic layouts
• The end and start stations’ positions are predetermined and other intersections are generated randomly with each other’s connecting ends until there are no available grid spaces to generate new tracks
• If the end station isn’t connected with a corresponding track, the entire map is regenerated

Planned Updates

• More track layouts, including more complex ones like t-intersections and more
• Creating the train so it can traverse along these tracks
• Adding styling to the tracks and other elements
• More rules to allow better and more unique map generation
• A lot more other stuff

What was the goal

• The goal for this devlog was simply to start out the game and make a beginning layout of what the game and tracks would look like. I created these three basic layouts and used a grid to track which tracks had been placed where to keep generating the map. I also had to work on simply getting GoDot engine setup alongside hacktime and learning both how to use the engine and GDScript since this is the first time I’m using GoDot and the first time i’m making a game at all so it’s a learning experience trying to figure out how to use it. Next I want to focus on figuring out how I am going to get trains to work and make them follow the track layouts that will later in the future become more accessible to trains (not have sharp 90 degree turns).

Devlog #11

Additions

• Painfully figured out how to make the app downloadable for others to use after issues with packaging the app with electron due to version issues
• Some code improvements to be more readable and better in general
• Updated ReadMe and project info
• Found and added a logo for the website
• Finished project and ready for ship #1

Devlog #10

Additions

• Added functionality to the dark mode button, which completely changes the background styling
• Clicking the dark mode button changes the icon to a moon vs a sun on light mode
• Created a whole new color scheme for dark mode
• Added dark mode as an automatically saved setting that loads on default upon load
• Painfully fixed bugs related with storing it as a new setting (mostly due to organization of code and structure)
• Added new lucide chevron icons for the chart arrow keys
• Fixed issues with the scroll bar when opening settings pop-up

Planned Updates

• Add some more settings like downloading data, etc. (maybe)
• Make the app downloadable for others to use
• Optimize and organize the code to be more readable and better in general
• Update ReadMe and project info
• Find and add a logo for the website

Devlog #9

Additions

• Added styling to reset button
• Added the launch on startup and run in background settings that work as said in the names
• Added tracking interval and how many weeks to keep to decide when to track the data and how much to store
• Added warning that show what the correct input should be if incorrect input is given
• Added the reset button functionality that provides a native pop-up to confirm reset before deleting all data
• Stored settings in a JSON file to save them even after app has been closed
• Fixed styling and spacing irregularities throughout the app

Planned Updates

• Add functionality to dark mode button
• Add some more settings like downloading data, etc.
• Make the app downloadable for others to use
• Optimize and organize the code to be more readable and better in general
• Update ReadMe and project info
• Find and add a logo for the website

Devlog #8

Additions

• Added the UI for the settings tab that opens a pop-up showing many settings.
• Settings include “Launch on Startup,” “Minimize on Close,” “Tracking Interval,” “How many weeks of data to keep,” and a “Reset Data” button. Only the tracking interval has functionality and works as of now
• Created a slider for the yes or no settings that has a smooth animation/slide
• Added an input box for other questions with variable settings and a prompt for how to enter settings in
• Made the chart and table elements auto-adapt to changes in screen size.

Planned Updates

• Add functionality to all other settings
• Design the reset data button and add functionality
• Add functionality to dark mode button
• Make it so settings save even if the app is closed
• Add some more settings like downloading data, etc.
• Make the app downloadable for others to use
• Optimize and organize the code to be more readable and better in general
• Update ReadMe
• Update project info
• Find and add a logo for the website

Devlog #7

Additions

• Added custom titlebar at the top with appropriate close, maximize, and minimize buttons
• Updated scrollbar on the screen to better match the website in terms of styling
• Changed the layout of the title header to now have the text left-aligned
• Added two new buttons, one for setting and one for darkmode (might change) on the right side (currently no functionality)
• Used lucide to get icons for the buttons
• Updated the font for the chart and the text size
• Added a footer on the bottom
• Changed the app name to Windows Screen Time Tracker
• Fixed any errors that would show up if no active window is detected

Planned updates

• Adding functionality to the buttons
• Updating the app logo
• Updating the ReadMe
• Better organizing code and getting rid of unnecessary things/optimizing
• Making the chart and other elements auto-adapt to size changes
• Figuring out how to make it a downloadable app

Devlog #6

Additions

• Added functionality to arrow buttons that moves between available weeks of data
• Arrow buttons are grayed out if there is no more data available to be viewed
• Clicking on different bars of the bar chart now updates the table and the date to show that specific screentime per app for that date
• Moved the date under the chart and above the table in line with the refresh button
• Added the week of above the chart, which shows which week of data the chart shows

Planned Updates

• Additional styling for the chart, such as font of numbers
• Adding new icons and stuff so the app is less bland/boring
• Fixing bugs, like if no window is detected it doesn’t give an error
• Finding and changing the logo for the site and the name
• Making sure the sizing is automatically adaptive to different screen sizes and changes as the screen changes (the chart mainly)
• Figuring out how to make it so others can download it
• Maybe dropdown menu if it works out
• Maybe additional color options like a dark mode
• Updating README and project info

Devlog #5

Additions

• Added the refresh button that refreshes the data on both the table and the chart when clicked
• Added the day for which the data is being displayed at the top of the chart with day of the week and the long date
• Added the two arrow key buttons on either side of the chart that currently don’t do anything when clicked
• Changed the times so they no longer say 0s if there is already a minutes and hours time (ie: 2h 34m 0s to 2h 34m)
• Added styling to the buttons, which makes them have a shadow and glide up and down when hovered over
• Changed the color of the chart to better match the rest of the website

Future Updates

• Adding functionality to the arrow buttons to move between weeks when clicked
• Changing the table to show the data for each day when clicking on different days of the week from the chart
• Making the application look nicer overall and more lively
• Bug fixes so the time is tracked more accurately (like not tracking time on the desktop home screen)
• Possibly adding a dropdown menu to show which specific tabs/websites were viewed and for how long (ie: Youtube - 2 hours)
• Making it a downloadable app that others can also use

Devlog #4

Additions

• Used chart.js to add a chart displaying total screen time during the current week
• The x-axis shows the days of the week, where blank boxes indicate that day hasn’t occured yet or there is no screen time
• The y-axis goes in increments of 30 minutes and automatically shortens or lengthens based off of your maximum screen time
• Hovering over the bar displays the total screen time as the table does below
• Time and days are now automatically tracked in local time instead of UTC

Planned Updates

• Styling for the chart to better match the rest of the website
• A refresh button that refreshes the data instead of having to reopen or restart the app
• Screentime history that lets you see your screen time for the past week and possibly more
• Clicking on a day will also update the table to show your specific app usages for that day.

Additions

• Added styling to the table and the overall app
• Added a total at the bottom of the table that shows total time throughout the whole day
• Added the name of the device for which screen time is being tracked under the main header

• Displayed data from JSON file on the webpage in a table format
• Added the app icons to the webpage
• Converted the time from seconds to hours/minutes and formatted it
• Sorted the time in order of longest to shortest
• Added basic styling to the page, which will be updated later

I created a GitHub repository and decided to build this as a desktop app that runs in the background. After researching my options, I chose Electron because it lets me build the UI with HTML and CSS and create the backend/frontend with JavaScript while still allowing it to be used as an application. I used Electron Forge as a project template to start the application. For tracking the screentime, I used the paymoapp/active-window package, which checks the active window every 5 seconds and logs the time to a local JSON file with the app name, date, and time. The app automatically saves every 30 seconds and clears out any data older than 14 days.