Task - Desktop Time Tracker App
The Time Tracker Desktop App to be developed for dev.surfnwork.com, should track time a freelancer spent on delivering the job and will randomly take screenshots as evidence which the freelancer can delete if irrelevant or sensitive private screenshots have been taken.
The Freelancer should have the option to delete permanently irrelevant taken screenshots by the app which would automatically deduct time (time from previous relevant taken screenshot to the irrelevant taken screenshot/s) upon deletion.
Client too should have the option to delete the irrelevant screenshots which would automatically deduct time which would send a notification to the freelancer. However, the deleted screenshots by the client should be saved as a record which can only be permanently deleted once the freelancer Agrees or be reversed by the freelancer which then Client would receive notification.
Should Freelancer Disagree with the deletion of the screenshots which client has marked for deletion, or the client disagree of freelancer having reversed the deletion, then both parties have the option to raise a dispute.
The screenshots beside through the desktop app, they should also
be visible through a tab on Workstream.
The captured worked hours should also be visible in Workstream and
accordingly invoice client per agreed milestone.
Trust & Accountability (Proof of Work)
These features provide the transparency clients demand while
giving freelancers control over what they share.
· Activity Level Monitoring: Tracks mouse
movements and keyboard strokes to calculate an hourly productivity percentage.
· Randomized Screenshots: Takes a snapshot of the freelancer’s
screen at unpredictable intervals (e.g., once every 10-minute window).
· Freelancer Privacy Controls: Allows
freelancers to delete specific time segments and their associated screenshots
if personal or sensitive information was captured.
· Anti-Cheat Detection: Built-in logic to flag software that
mimics user activity, such as hardware mouse jigglers or automated clicker
scripts.
Time & Task Capture
The tracking mechanism must remain as seamless and automated as
possible to prevent lost billable minutes
Core features that a freelance-centric desktop app should include:
1. One-Click
& Passive Tracking: The ability to start and stop a timer with a single click, alongside passive background tracking that monitors active apps/URLs so freelancers can reconstruct timesheets retroactively.
2. Project &
Client Hierarchy: Capability to organize tasks under specific clients and sub-projects to keep client deliverables cleanly separated.
3. Offline
Functionality: Ability to log time without an active internet connection, automatically syncing data once the user reconnects.
4. Non-Customizable
Billing Rates: Features to assign specific task to the project’s milestone so billable time instantly translates into financial metrics.
5. Professional
Reporting & Invoicing: Seamless generation of tidy, exportable timesheet reports and professional PDF invoices to be attached directly to workstream.
6. Proof-of-Work
Logs: Optional activity-level tracking, like keystroke counting, app-usage history, and randomized screenshots, which are frequently required by freelance marketplaces (like Upwork or Toptal).
7. Idle Time
Detection: Automatic prompts that pause the timer or ask for user confirmation if the computer has been inactive for a set period.
Platform Integration & Financials
The app should act as a direct extension of surfnwork’s contract
and escrow ecosystem.
· Contract Syncing: Automatically imports active hourly
contracts, milestone names, and client rosters straight into the app drop-down
menu.
· Escrow & Budget Guardrails:
Blocks the freelancer from logging time if a contract is paused, if the weekly
hourly limit is reached, or if the client's escrow funds run dry.
· Real-Time Revenue Counter: Displays the
exact monetary amount earned during the current session based on the contract’s
hourly rate.
💻 System & Security Requirements
Because it interacts closely with the freelancer’s operating
system, the app must be stable and secure.
· Low
Resource Footprint: Optimized
performance to ensure background logging does not cause system lag during
resource-heavy tasks like rendering, coding, or video editing.
· Cross-Platform
Parity: Identical operational feature sets across Windows, macOS, and Linux systems.
· Secure Local Storage: Strong encryption for locally cached screenshots and time logs prior
to platform upload.
The
All-in-One Suite (The Project Dashboard)
· This design
functions as a full workspace hub. It operates in a standard desktop
application window (approx. 1000x700 pixels) and removes the need for the
freelancer to constantly visit the web browser.
🎨 User Interface (UI) Layout
- Three-Pane Interface:
- Left Sidebar: Navigation tabs (Timer, Contracts, Earnings, Messages, Settings).
- Central Workspace: Displays deep contract details, milestone progress bars, and recent work history.
- Right Activity Panel: Shows a grid gallery of the screenshots taken during the current session, with a trash icon on each image.
- The Header bar: Contains a permanent, prominent Start/Stop tracking bar visible from any tab.
⚙️ Feature Workflow
- Hourly Management: Freelancers can view their exact Work Diary for the week. They can review snapshots, type descriptions directly under specific 10-minute blocks, and view live client feedback comments right next to the screenshots.
- Fixed-Price Milestone Hub:
- Lists all historical and upcoming milestones for a project.
- Displays clear escrow funding statuses (e.g., "Milestone 2 Escrow Funded - Safe to Work").
- Features a "Submit Work for Approval" button directly inside the app, allowing the user to attach their time log, files, or notes without opening a browser.
- Live Earnings Stream: A dynamic dashboard tab showing gross weekly earnings, pending escrow clearances, and projected payouts.
Key
Commonalities for macOS & Windows
- macOS Architecture: Must request explicit permissions for Screen Recording and Accessibility (for keyboard/mouse metrics) upon first install. It should leverage a native menu bar helper.
- Windows Architecture: Requires signed binaries to pass Windows Defender SmartScreen blocks. It should live in the system tray and support native dark/light modes.