The WorkspaceLogger is a simple python script to log and analyze which workspaces ("viewports" in unity) you are using in Ubuntu 16.04 (see DISCLAIMER.rst). If you dedicate each workspace to a specific type of task, you may then analyze how much time is spent on these tasks. You may also automate reminders and messages for taking breaks or projects that are collecting dust. Note: healthy workstation guidelines suggest that you take two to three 30- to 60-second breaks each hour to allow your body to recover from periods of repetitive stress. This notification feature, and the analysis, is made possible if you reserve one workspace which you make active just before you stop using the workstation. The scripts are meant to be run every minute by crontab, and saved periodically for analysis.
- Enable workspaces: Appearance -> Behavior -> Enable workspaces
- Install X Window manager
sudo apt install wmctrl- Update the path to python in update.sh.
- Create your custom logger.json (as shown in logger.json.example) and customize Notifications. If you would like more than 4 workspaces (default), Add more workspaces.
- Test that the python script runs by the command below. A timeseries.txt file should have been created with your current workspace.
./update.sh- Add to crontab as shown in crontab.example.
crontab -e- If all goes well, you should see timeseries.txt updating every minute. And the file summary.txt will populate at midnight everyday, with an email notification and attached plot.png histogram. You may also receive notifications if you are not taking breaks. Use the mail command to check for errors if the logger does not appear to be working.
You can add more workspaces to unity as follows:
sudo apt install compizconfig-settings-manager
ccsmNavigate to General Options -> Desktop Size tab
This script uses the linux command line program "mutt" to send email notifications.
sudo apt install mutt
To disable the notifications, change "disable_notify" from 0 to 1 in logger.json.
To add your email address, update "email_address" in logger.json.
To change the number of minutes until notification, update "minutes_per_break" in logger.json.
To change the workspace label which corresponds to taking a break, update "break_label" in logger.json.
To reset the break notification:
python /path/to/WorkspaceLogger/reset_break.pyThe python code used for computing which workspace (viewport) is active was taken almost entirely from Jacob Vlijm's 4/6/17 answer on https://askubuntu.com/questions/900970/how-do-i-look-up-the-name-of-the-current-workspace
Harold Wickes Hatch