Developer builds open-source, offline time tracker using Python, Tkinter, and SQLite

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A developer created Local Time Tracker, a free, open-source Windows desktop app that monitors application usage locally without requiring an account or sending any telemetry. The tool uses Python, Tkinter, and SQLite to record which foreground application is active, its window title, and periods of keyboard and mouse inactivity. All data is stored in a local SQLite database on the user's machine, avoiding the privacy risks associated with cloud-based time-tracking tools that may capture sensitive information from window titles. The app generates daily and seven-day activity summaries and can produce standalone offline HTML reports, with the developer noting that the database is not encrypted and relies on the security of the user's Windows account. The project was also prepared for external contributors, with the developer sharing architectural decisions and privacy trade-offs made during development.

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