clock-tracking 0.0.7
Time tracking management from python / command line
Requires Python: >=2.8

# clock

Simple command-line time tracker based on a simple text file format.

# Introduction

This simple utility uses a text file to store tasks with date/time information. Each time you start working on a task, a new line is created on the file with the current time and a description of the task you are starting to work on.

At the end of the day, or anytime, you can then generate reports and statistics based on the file.

## File structure

The file structure is very simple and can be edited using the script or directly with your favorite text editor.
Here is an example file:

```
[2022-01-01]
10:00 Starting project X +projectX
11:23 Starting documentation of project X +projectX +doc
12:00 [Stop]
[2022-01-02]
08:05 Starting workday, checking emails +office +emails
09:00 Back on documentation +projectX +doc
10:00 [Stop]
```

## Tags and ids

An entry in this file can be associated with tags if you start the tag with a `+` (`+tag`) or ID if you start with a `.` (`.456`). 

Tags allow for powerful filtering and reporting. They are ordered, meaning that `+project +doc` is different from `+doc +project` (see reports and filters below).

IDs allow to track time of tasks from an external tool, such as Jira. Entries with an ID are automatically assigned a default tag (`+jira`).

## Special tasks

The `[Stop]` task is used to stop the last task. It is not required if you switch tasks without taking a break.

# Installation

The program is available as a python packge through Pypi, so you can download it using pip:

```
python -m pip install clock-tracking
```

## Creating an alias

You can create a shortcut (alias) to make the package easier to be called from the command line. Follow the instructions below depending on your operating system.

### Windows PowerShell

On Windows, you can use the script with PowerShell. To create an alias permenantly, open your `profile.ps1` file (see [Windows PowerShell Profiles](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powershell/module/microsoft.powershell.core/about/about_profiles?view=powershell-7.2)) and add these lines:

```powershell
function Invoke-Clock { python -m clock_tracking $args }
New-Alias -Name clock -Value Invoke-Clock
```

### MacOS / Unix

Open your bash profile (see [Bash Profiles](https://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Bash-Startup-Files.html)) and add these lines:

```bash
alias clock="python -m clock_tracking"
```

# Usage

## Tracking tasks

Use the `clock_tracking` python package to run the program, i.e. `python -m clock_tracking` or directly the command alias (see above). In this documentation, we'll use the alias `clock` to call the `python -m clock_tracking` package. 

You can add a new entry by adding the entry definition after the package name:

```
$ clock Definition of the prototype +myapp +proto
Added: 08:10 Definition of the prototype +myapp +proto

Duration   Date                  Start      Stop       Tags            Name                               IDs
00:00      2022-01-01            08:10      08:10      +myapp,+proto   Definition of the prototype         
```

To switch to a new task, just use the same command:

```
$ clock Switching to new task
Added: 09:02 Switching to a new task

Duration   Date                  Start      Stop       Tags            Name                               IDs
00:00      2022-01-01            08:10      08:10                      Switching to a new task
```

This will automatically stop the last task and start a new one. When you have finished working, use the `stop` command:

```
$ clock stop
Added: 10:00 [Stop]
```

## Reports

You can show reports/statistics with the `show` command:

```
$ clock show
```

All tasks are ordered by first tag by default. Several filters are available, see `./clock --help` for the full documentation.

To show all the tasks with their details:

```
$ clock show --details
```

To filter by a tag:

```
$ clock show +tag
```

To filter by an ID:

```
$ clock show .345
```

## Examples

Report by tags / projects:

![Show tasks by tags](https://github.com/computoms/clock/blob/main/img/myapp.png?raw=true)

Show today's tasks details:

![Show today's tasks details](https://github.com/computoms/clock/blob/main/img/details.png?raw=true)

## Documentation

```
usage: __main__.py [-h] [-f FILE] [--target HH:MM] [--target-per-day HH:MM] [-a HH:MM] [-t] [-w] [-s YYYY-mm-dd] [-e YYYY-mm-dd] [-l n] [-d]
                   [--categories] [--timeline]
                   command

Helps managing time tracking from the command-line

positional arguments:
  command               Command (add, edit, show). add: add a new entry. edit: edit current entry's description. show: show reports and statistics.

options:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit

settings:
  -f FILE, --file FILE  Speficy the file to store time entries. Default is ~/clock.txt
  --target HH:MM        <show> Sets expected target time (format HH:MM) and computes the difference with actual times in the reports
  --target-per-day HH:MM
                        <show> Sets expected target time per day (format HH:MM) and computes the difference with actual times in the reports

add:
  -a HH:MM, --at HH:MM  <add> Specify a time (format HH:MM) of a new entry

filters:
  -t, --today           <show> Show only entries from today
  -w, --week            <show> Show only entries from the current week
  -s YYYY-mm-dd, --from YYYY-mm-dd
                        <show> Include entries with start date later or equal to given date (format YYYY-mm-dd)
  -e YYYY-mm-dd, --to YYYY-mm-dd
                        <show> Include entries with start date earlier or equal to given date (format YYYY-mm-dd)
  -l n, --last n        <show> Show only the last n entries

reports:
  -d, --details         <show> Shows detailed report
  --categories          <show> Shows categories report (default)
  --timeline            <show> Shows issues on a timeline (only when --today is specified)
```