Personal · 2023 · Small tools, done properly
Desk-Alert
A desktop alerting utility for time-boxed work and break reminders.
- Runtime
- Background
- Built with
- Python
The problem
Long coding sessions run past every intended stopping point. Desk-Alert schedules interruptions that are hard to dismiss on autopilot.
Constraints
- Runs unattended in the background
- Must not become the thing you ignore
Architecture
01 App
- Python scheduler
- OS notification bridge
- Python
- Desktop notifications
- Scheduling
Key decision
Escalating, not repeating, reminders
A repeating reminder gets trained out within a week. Escalation — the alert changing character each time it's dismissed — keeps it legible for longer.
What it cost
Mildly annoying by design.
Outcome
- Small, finished, used daily.