Show HN: A Chrome extension for goal-based browsing

7 points by akaalias 15 years ago | 7 comments

Hi all,

I just made this Chrome extension I would like to hear your feedback on:

http://alexisrondeau.com/reup/

The extension will ask you to define a goal while working within Chrome. Once you've set yourself that goal it will be visible on any webpage you visit after that.

Some background: I've been noticing how much time I tend to waste online, especially Facebook, HackerNews, and tried many different ways to control the habit.

There are extensions and methods out there that should help with this kind of behavior, for example StayFocusd or LeechBlock, but I have found myself not being able to stay on track even with them. After a while I wind up just using a different browser. Please note, this is not a shortcoming of the extensions, but of my own self-control.

So, instead of blocking sites, I thought it good to stay reminded of what I set out to do in the first place (For example: "Finish todays project and deploy", "Get inspired", "Research meditation techniques"). Usually, when I know what I want, the internet is an amazing tool. If I forget about it, things just get messy and wasteful...

If you are interested, give it a spin. Any feedback or questions are highly appreciated.

In best case I would like to know how it does -- or doesn't -- affect your productivity positively over the course of several days and if there is a breakingpoint of annoyance over time.

l0nwlf 15 years ago |

When I open a new tab, I still see the form "My Goal today is..." which is kind of irritating. Shouldn't it just show my goals. If I have to set my goal I shall click on the reup extension icon to fill it.

Nice idea btw, planning to try this for a week.

akaalias 15 years ago | |

Also, there is this extension here that supports more goals: https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/ocnjckohbfdjdlhf... -- It works a bit differently but could be interesting as well.

akaalias 15 years ago | |

edit -- First of all, thank you for giving it a spin!

The reasoning to have the form available is that I think you should be able to change your goal as you please.

It could be hidden though and only shown when you opt out of the current one.

For my own experience, I've been using it for about 10 days (usually change goals once or twice a day) and it has been working out for myself.

I would definitely like to hear your progress: Is it just a nice idea or something that actually helps.

niels_olson 15 years ago |

I like the idea. But ouch! I'm on a Cr-48 trying to spend the first month under the free Verizon 3g 100MB plan, why does this take 3.8 MB?

Also, I was editing this comment and punched right through whatever that popup is when it finishes downloading.

akaalias 15 years ago | |

Thanks! Just checked, I still had the .git folders that got packaged, too. The .crx file is now updated at only around 400K.

ithkuil 15 years ago |

Great idea. It would be nice to be able to hide it from some webapps (identified by domains or tabs), like your favorite webmail app.

akaalias 15 years ago | |

I understand that, and a configuration page could take care of that. Do you think that when you're in your webmail, you would not want to see your goal? For me that's one of the places I would want to be reminded, but, again, I understand.