Command line tool for blocking sites to be more productive

Command line tool for blocking sites to be more productive(github.com)

24 points by feronull 13 years ago | 27 comments

crazy_eye 13 years ago |

Similar to others here but I thought I'd share my way as well (on OSX here, but would work on other Unixes):

Throw these somewhere in your profile:

alias zonemode='sudo mv /etc/hosts /etc/hosts.zoneback && sudo mv /etc/hosts.zonemode /etc/hosts && dscacheutil -flushcache' alias zoneoff='sudo mv /etc/hosts /etc/hosts.zonemode && sudo mv /etc/hosts.zoneback /etc/hosts && dscacheutil -flushcache'

Then fill /etc/hosts.zonemode with the sites you want to block:

127.0.0.1 news.ycombinator.com

127.0.0.1 www.reddit.com

Then make sure your user can run passwordless sudo on those commands and you are set.

JoshMock 13 years ago |

I prefer the /etc/hosts hack, putting in entries like `127.0.0.1 twitter.com`. That way, when I actually want to visit Twitter, I have to `sudo vim /etc/hosts`, enter my password, comment out the host entry, save, go to Twitter, and then uncomment the entry, save and quit when I'm ready to block it again.

The inconvenience of the action is what makes it work. If I only had to type `workmode stop` I'd have that committed to muscle memory by the end of a work day or two.

kaolinite 13 years ago |

Nice project, though if you'd rather not install Node.JS and all of its dependencies, you might want to try https://github.com/leftnode/get-shit-done

There are a few versions of it in Python, PHP and sh so you can pick your preference :-)

rjh29 13 years ago | |

My version, in Perl with Arch support:

https://github.com/richardjharris/get-shit-done

I've just realised I'll need to update it now Arch is using systemd...

IvarTJ 13 years ago |

    var hostsFile = process.platform == "linux" ? "/etc/hosts/" : "C:\\Windows\\System32\\drivers\\etc\\hosts";

Surely this won't work on anything but Windows.

galenward 13 years ago |

Here's the thing with this: It's easy to find new unproductive sites and an outright ban from distractions is difficult to live with - humans crave distraction.

What if instead of blocking sites, the nonproductive internet slowed down a lot? Then in the 10 seconds you waited for Hacker News to load, you might think to yourself that this is a bad idea and give up.

Jonovono 13 years ago |

Sweet. I am going to try this out!

Has anyone here used Self Control? (http://visitsteve.com/made/selfcontrol/). Sometimes when I block websites, like Reddit.com and this one and few others it makes other websites look weird. Like the page will still load but be broken. I think Self Control is blocking sites the same way this does. Any idea why this happens?

timothya 13 years ago | |

I've used Self Control, and I like it in principle (it makes it difficult to disable it after it's been turned on, which I like).

However, in practice it doesn't work too well for me. If you block youtube.com or plus.google.com it tends to block other parts of Google (including Search and Docs), which is a big dealbreaker. There's an Issue on Github for the bug, but it's really old and there hasn't been any progress on it. If it worked as it should, then I'd actually consider using Self Control.

Jonovono 13 years ago | | |

Yeah, exactly. That's what I like about it too. Have you tried this one out? If it solves those problems, it wouldn't be too hard to make it work like Self Control. Maybe a GUI could be made for it. I am more familiar working in Node.

nicholassmith 13 years ago | |

I use it now and again, never come across that but you're right it does work on the hosts file in the same way.

valdiorn 13 years ago |

For me, procrastination is a normal part of my routine. I've tried forcing myself not to do it, but you know what happens? Instead of reading hacker news, I just stare out the window for ten minutes, or think about what exercises I'm going to do at the gym.

Your mind is not willing to do the task you need it to do and there is nothing you can do about it. (that's my experience)

rgbrgb 13 years ago | |

I think that time staring out the window is more important than the time you're reading HN. That gap time when I'm just letting your mind work on stuff "in the background" is when a lot of my best ideas bubble up. I think I saw a talk about this or something but that's why they say you always get new ideas in the shower.

axelav 13 years ago |

if you're on a mac, Gas Mask is a really good tool to switch between different /etc/hosts files

http://www.clockwise.ee/gasmask/

here's my 'focus mode'

https://gist.github.com/2564478

M4v3R 13 years ago | |

Also, try Self Control app: http://selfcontrolapp.com It has a black/white list (depending on what you need) of hosts, and lets you set up a timer.

cstuder 13 years ago | |

On Windows, there's Focal Filter which changes the hosts file for a given period of time.

http://www.focalfilter.com/

timothya 13 years ago |

It doesn't seem to work for me. After installing as per the instructions, I get the following error whenever I try to do `workmode <x>`:

    env: node\r: No such file or directory

(I'm on a Mac)

EDIT: Are you using Windows newlines? I think that's the problem.

arbeitandy 13 years ago |

the proxy/pac file version of self-control:

  https://gist.github.com/3907633

[pac file in this gist is merely a demo, please clone it and add your sites-to-blackhole-during-work]

the advantages of using a pac file over /etc/hosts are

* you can safely version control it

* you dont need to install extra software (at least on mac/windows)

* you can gist your determination

for more details of pac file, please dig into the reference link of pacfile:

  http://findproxyforurl.com/pac-functions/

there could be fun to use weekdayRange/timeRange to specify exact hours you want to be away from any self-distraction.

darren 13 years ago |

Concentrate does this with a nice interface (non-free, although with a very long trial period): http://getconcentrating.com/

Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be well maintained.

amitagarwal 13 years ago |

Here's a similar script written in VBS http://www.labnol.org/software/temporarily-block-websites/18...

incision 13 years ago |

Nice clean tool.

Thing is, I'd like these tools to wearing muzzle to lose weight. It's misdirection of effort into avoiding rather than addressing the demonstrated issue of self-control.

brnstz 13 years ago | |

No one has infinite willpower. Making it a tad harder to browse reddit is a useful deterrent. It makes you think twice. If you're trying to lose weight, wearing a muzzle is extreme. However, it's a good idea to remove all the junk food from your house. You can always buy more, but it's that much harder.

rjh29 13 years ago | |

If you habitually procrastinate by browsing to reddit et al, these tools can help by killing the positive feedback (as the sites appear down). After a while you no longer have the urge to visit the sites, and the tool isn't necessary.

Supreme 13 years ago |

Optimized version:

# turn on

sudo rm /etc/hosts

sudo ln -s /etc/hosts{.work,}

# turn off

sudo rm /etc/hosts

sudo ln -s /etc/hosts{.play,}

Optimized further (in your ~/.bashrc):

alias work="sudo rm /etc/hosts && sudo ln -s /etc/hosts{.work,}"

alias play="sudo rm /etc/hosts && sudo ln -s /etc/hosts{.play,}"

Optimization cubed (lets you define a base hosts file):

alias work="sudo rm /etc/hosts && sudo cat /etc/hosts.base >> /etc/hosts && sudo cat /etc/hosts.work >> /etc/hosts"

alias play=...

The number of upvotes, the fact that you thought this was necessary and the fact that this application exists all made me facepalm hard. I can't even see right now.

pseudonym 13 years ago | |

This is close to what I have, except less complex. A single line in /etc/hosts that redirects sites to 127.0.0.1, which gets commented or uncommented. The fact that I have to go through the hassle of sudoing up and removing the comment means I'm far more likely to catch myself before doing it and getting back to work.

Supreme 13 years ago | | |

Optimization #4:

alias play="sleep 120 && ..."

Two minutes should be enough for the craving to pass :-)

srijan4 13 years ago | |

I upvoted so that others share their similar setups/scripts (as you did).