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Meet mite.cmd, a simple command-line interface for mite

Introducing mite.cmd, a terminal interface for time tracking with mite.

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Time tracking has become an important part of my daily work. Starting timers, creating entries, and selecting projects is usually quick, but doing it in a browser still requires many clicks and keystrokes.

For a while, I used mite through Fluid with an iPhone user agent. The combination worked well, but it was not ideal for somebody who spends most of the day in a terminal. I still had to switch applications, click through the interface, and move a hand away from the keyboard.

DynaMite later integrated mite into the macOS preference pane and kept the current timer visible in the menu bar. The free version stopped timers after thirty minutes, however, and I could not find an uninstall button.

After another week with the Fluid application, I decided to build a client that matched my own workflow and did not stop timers arbitrarily. That decision produced mite.cmd. After one weekend and two additional nights spent working with the mite-rb gem and Bash completion, I pushed the initial commit to GitHub.

Use mite directly from the console

The command lets me keep TextMate and iTerm as my only open work applications. Before mite.cmd, starting work required this sequence:

  • I opened a browser or the Fluid application.
  • I clicked through the interface until an empty time entry was running.
  • I returned to the application in which I was actually working.

My day often ended with another sequence:

  • I switched back to the browser or Fluid application.
  • I stopped every timer and added the missing notes.
  • I opened the reporting page to review the day.

Now I can start with mite + and finish with mite + && mite today.

Does the terminal have to be ugly and full of gibberish?

A terminal can certainly look that way, but it does not have to. mite.cmd aligns each entry, shows only the necessary information, and uses a little color to emphasize its state. A red 0:25 indicates a stopped entry, while a yellow 1:70 indicates a running one. Each report ends with the revenue total in green.

The interface follows two principles:

  • mite.cmd keeps the interaction simple.
  • Color highlights the important information without overwhelming the report.

What about all the typing?

A select box may appear faster than entering a complete project name. Bash completion removes most of that overhead: typing mite [tab] can select a project with only a few additional keystrokes.

The real comparison is between moving a hand to the mouse and clicking through the interface, or keeping both hands on the keyboard for six to ten keystrokes. You can choose whichever interaction feels more comfortable.

  • Choose mite.cmd if you enjoy terminals, administer systems, or like adapting your tools. Install it with the following command.
  $ gem install Overbryd-mite.cmd -s http://gems.github.com
  • You also need a mite account, which you can create at mite.yo.lk.

Current version and updates

At the time of writing, mite.cmd was actively maintained at version 0.1.9. Update to the most recent version with this command:

$ gem update Overbryd-mite.cmd