I remember people on an extremely distracting forum using it, ultimately it doesn't work. Those same people are still spending a lot of time on that forum, they've stopped turning it on.
Also worth noting, RescueTime has a "Get Focused" feature that blocks any sites that you have marked as unproductive (for a specified number of minutes).
Hadn't seen that, only a pay for app (and I'm cheap :))! Anyway, Focus is tailored perfectly for me, hope some other people can find use out of it too.
Edit: Clarification (I'm sorry I can't reply to your comment, it won't let me), I meant I had only seen a pay for app and not this one.
Edit 2: (reply to comment also) also doesn't appear to have exceptions, maybe I'm wrong.
Please be careful, I intentionally made there to be no easy way (it can actually be reversed in one command but not in the interface) to re-enable internet access before the timeout. Hope you like it!
Edit: Literally clicking [+] does nothing, so there’s nothing to save. I’m also not convinced 5 is enough: I want dropbox to be connected, github, our bug tracker, our team chat, my email, and basecamp — that’s 6 already.
Dropbox works offline, Git is a DVCS so you don't really need a connection for it (unless you're finding other projects), and if you're working you don't need email. This would work fantastically with the Pomodoro technique
I actually use my hosts file, and block all the common time wasting sites I like to waste time on. There is no time period - the sites are off limits for the computer, period.
I have another computer in another room for time-wasting - with no restrictions. But sitting there is acknowledging that you're wasting time. You can't fool yourself or anyone else that you're being productive, otherwise you'd be at the 'real' computer.
I find this to be far more effective than a periodic-blocking application. Because anything you can turn off with the click of a mouse, will get turned off just when you need it the most. Editing a hosts file is a major PITA in comparison.
This cannot be turned off with a click of the mouse (see my warning below) :-) — although, one who spent 5 minutes reading the source, could turn it off! But still, not click of the mouse.
And yes, a second time wasting computer would be ideal but ye I don't have one :)
Don't quote me on the exact syntax (I do know the syntax for iptables):
ipfw add allow tcp from site-a.com to any http;
ipfw add allow tcp from site-b.com to any http;
ipfw add allow tcp from site-c.com to any http;
ipfw add deny ip from any to any;
sleep $HOWEVERLONG;
ipfw flush;
I guess the other way would be simply to do ifconfig up when you need a site and take it down again. I don't tend to use such methods because if I'm really susceptible to distraction something else will distract me anyway. I think that self-discipline could be better (when the urge comes to load twitter, just don't do it).
When I opened it, I didn't realize it went to my toolbar. If you want this to be used by a broader audience you should have a "run once" to let people know how to use it.
Yeah completely agree. I was looking everywhere, opened it twice, then, scratching my head glanced randomly @ the tool bar. The prod version will certainly need some sort of pointer to what's going on re: this. Config wizard or similar i guess
