Show HN: Ctql – clock time quest log – for nerdy solo devs

by mackenzieboweson 6/14/2025, 3:01 PMwith 1 comments

About the thing --- ctql (`npx/bunx ctql` to try it out) is a fantasy-flavoured CLI tool for tracking your progress on projects.

You do need to prep a task list, or Quest Line - for now, it uses TOML and makes some strict demands. The git repo (https://github.com/mackenziebowes/questlog) includes guides showing fun and easy ways to generate Quest Lines.

You can toggle a feature I'm calling "*git sync*" where the CLI automatically (crudely) commits work and makes branches for you.

Using straight `bunx ctql` opens a clack tree showing off all 4 features, and you can also `bunx ctql done` to finish the current task, `bunx ctql stats` to see your projects current stats, or `bunx ctql git` to toggle your git sync status. --- The Story --- I am a self-taught programmer deep in the depths of funemployment... emphasis on the fun. Really trying to level up from a React plumber into a "real programmer", who knows if I'll ever figure that out.

I spend a lot of time on different experiments, and not much is getting actually done - this year is really just flying by.

So, I wanted a way to make the computer track my progress, including my getting distracted and wandering into other rabbit holes, *and* a way to make data entry about progress easy and fun.

This is built using my best guesses about performance psychology: breaking down large tasks into small chunks, setting conditions for success, feedback loops + visible incremental progress, external operationalizing ... all things that supposedly make video games addictive.

I hope you find it useful and I expect you to find it a bit silly.

by mackenzieboweson 6/14/2025, 3:52 PM

Some more Show HNs have come in behind me that are links to full web apps with paywalls

Commenting to confirm prehop that CTQL is fully FOSS, please fork it for your own devices :)