Is there any way to find out how long I've used a certain app for?

[bingefeller]

A strange request - but I'm trying to work out how long I spend with a certain app open. Is there any way that I can do this, without using a third party app?

 

[kryten2]

A strange request - but I'm trying to work out how long I spend with a certain app open. Is there any way that I can do this, without using a third party app?

You can try this :

• Open AppleScript Editor
• Paste in the following code. I'm using VLC as an example, make sure to replace it with the name of that certain app!

global startDate
set startDate to (current date)
tell application "VLC" to activate
on idle
    if application "VLC" is not running then
        set stopDate to (current date)
        set timeInSec to stopDate - startDate
        set timePassed to do shell script "python -c 'import datetime; print str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=" & timeInSec & "))'"
        display notification "The application \"VLC\" ran for " & timePassed & " in h:mm:ss."
        tell me to quit
    end if
    return 1
end idle

• Make sure you save the script as a Stay-Open application (i.e., with the option to "Stay open after run handler" enabled)

 

[bingefeller]

Wow thank you!

 

[kryten2]

Wow thank you!

You're welcome.

 

[bingefeller]

You're welcome.

I hate to be a pain but, is there anyway that I will add up all the number of hours and minutes I have used the application for?

Say I use the app for 30 minutes one day, when I quit the app the script will tell me that the app has been running for 30 minutes. Say the next day I use it for 15 minutes - can I get the script to tell me that the app has been running for a total of 45 minutes?

Many thanks!

 

[kryten2]

I hate to be a pain but, is there anyway that I will add up all the number of hours and minutes I have used the application for?

Say I use the app for 30 minutes one day, when I quit the app the script will tell me that the app has been running for 30 minutes. Say the next day I use it for 15 minutes - can I get the script to tell me that the app has been running for a total of 45 minutes?

Many thanks!

Try this :

property totalTimeInSec : 0
global startDate
set startDate to (current date)
tell application "VLC" to activate
on idle
    if application "VLC" is not running then
        set stopDate to (current date)
        set timeInSec to stopDate - startDate
        set totalTimeInSec to totalTimeInSec + timeInSec
        set timePassed to do shell script "python -c 'import datetime; print str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=" & timeInSec & "))'"
        set totalTimePassed to do shell script "python -c 'import datetime; print str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=" & totalTimeInSec & "))'"
        display notification "Application \"VLC\" ran for " & timePassed & return & "Total: " & totalTimePassed
        tell me to quit
    end if
    return 1
end idle

 

[bingefeller]

Try this :

property totalTimeInSec : 0
global startDate
set startDate to (current date)
tell application "VLC" to activate
on idle
    if application "VLC" is not running then
        set stopDate to (current date)
        set timeInSec to stopDate - startDate
        set totalTimeInSec to totalTimeInSec + timeInSec
        set timePassed to do shell script "python -c 'import datetime; print str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=" & timeInSec & "))'"
        set totalTimePassed to do shell script "python -c 'import datetime; print str(datetime.timedelta(seconds=" & totalTimeInSec & "))'"
        display notification "Application \"VLC\" ran for " & timePassed & return & "Total: " & totalTimePassed
        tell me to quit
    end if
    return 1
end idle

Once again, Kryten2, many thanks!

 

[kryten2]

Once again, Kryten2, many thanks!

No problem, glad to help. A word of caution though! The value set by a property definition is not reset each time the script is run; instead, it persists until the script is recompiled. Meaning you've been using the script for a few days and decide to change something then the value will be reset to the initial value for the property eg 0. Might I ask what app you're monitoring and do you expect the value to go beyond 24 Hours?

 

[bingefeller]

No problem, glad to help. A word of caution though! The value set by a property definition is not reset each time the script is run; instead, it persists until the script is recompiled. Meaning you've been using the script for a few days and decide to change something then the value will be reset to the initial value for the property eg 0. Might I ask what app you're monitoring and do you expect the value to go beyond 24 Hours?

It's for Textual, an IRC app. I wont be using it for more than 24 hours.