I find that it doesn't matter which app you use because at the end of the day you need the discipline to update your time tracking when starting and ending your work time.
That's my biggest issue. I work in a chaotic way.
That's my biggest issue. I work in a chaotic way.
They passively record what you do, on computer and phone, and at the end of the day (or when invoicing is due) allow you to link what you did to projects.
Use ManicTime if you're mostly on Windows, Timing appears to be good if you're mostly on OS X, and ActivityWatch takes the same approach in an open-source cross-platform project.
I have ManicTime set to record a screenshot every 15 seconds, and record window title and document paths on every app switch. Invoicing still takes time, but knowing what you did and when helps to take all the guesswork out of it, especially for chaotic days.
[0] https://www.manictime.com/ [1] https://timingapp.com/ [2] https://activitywatch.net/
(I'm newish to HN, so please let me know if this message is inappropriate!)
I actually already did try using some sort of recursive git status/log viewer that I can't remember the name of now. Didn't keep it up but I think a program that scrapes my git repos, and perhaps aggregates with other activity logs, would be the best fit.