Ask HN: Is automatic time tracking a solved problem?

3 points by MoritzWall 358 days ago | 1 comment

I'm looking for a time tracker that doesn't require manual start/stop timers (like Toggl) or tedious, inaccurate rule-based categorization (like Rize/RescueTime). I want an app that runs in the background and can automatically figure out what I was doing — differentiating between focused work, meetings (via calendar integration), and distractions.

Everything I've tried is either too manual or not intelligent enough. Have you found a tool that gets this right? Or is this a harder problem to solve than it seems?

noignorabimus 357 days ago |

I've been down this same rabbit hole. Most "automatic" trackers I tried were a letdown—they either required constant manual categorization or relied on simplistic rules that misclassified my work.

After a lot of searching, I landed on Cronus (cronushq.com), and it’s the first tool that feels genuinely intelligent. Here’s why it works for me:

* Context-Aware AI: It actually understands _how_ I'm using an app. It can tell the difference between researching on Twitter and just scrolling, so the tracking is far more accurate than anything else I've used. * Truly Zero-Effort: There are no start/stop timers to forget. It runs in the background and figures everything out. It even integrates with my calendar to automatically log time for meetings, focus blocks, and lunch breaks. * Subtle & Encouraging: Instead of intrusive pop-ups, it has a small, elegant menu-bar timer that shows my focus in real-time. It helps me stay mindful without the stress of being "watched."

It solved the core problem for me: getting a clear, honest picture of my day without adding another tedious task to my plate. Highly recommend giving it a try.