Chronofile
Overview
• Chronofile is a minimalist, privacy-focused personal time-tracking application designed for users who want to log their daily activities without compromising their personal data.
Privacy and Data Ownership
• Local-First Storage: All tracked activities are saved directly to your device in a plain-text chronofile.tsv (tab-separated values) file.
• Offline Functionality: The application operates 100% offline, ensuring your sensitive daily logs never leave your physical device.
• No Intrusive Elements: There are zero advertisements, no tracking scripts, and no telemetry compiled or sent to external servers.
• Platform Independence: By using the universal TSV format, your data remains fully portable, easily readable by any text editor, and simple to analyze using spreadsheets or custom scripts.
Background and Community
• Decadelong Logging: The tool was refined through the creator's personal journey of documenting ten years of their life, proving the long-term viability of minimalist time tracking.
• Open Source: The codebase is entirely public, allowing users to inspect, audit, self-host, or contribute to the application's development.
• Developer Discussion: The project has been featured and discussed on Hacker News, engaging a community of digital minimalists and self-tracking enthusiasts.
Official Resources
• Source Code: https://github.com/artnc/chronofile/
• Creator's Blog Post: https://chaidarun.com/ten-years-of-logging-my-life
• Community Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29692087
FAQ
Q: Can I use Chronofile if I am in a location without an internet connection?
A: Yes, the application is built to be fully functional while offline. Because it does not rely on cloud synchronization or external APIs to save your logs, you can track your activities anywhere in the world, whether you are on a remote hike or an airplane, without any loss of functionality.
Q: What specific file format does Chronofile use to save my data?
A: The application saves your activity logs in a "chronofile.tsv" file, which stands for tab-separated values. This is a highly accessible and universal format that makes it easy for you to read your data in a simple text editor or import it into more advanced data tools later on.
Q: Is my data locked into the Chronofile app once I start using it?
A: Not at all, as one of the core philosophies of the project is platform independence. Since your logs are stored in a standard TSV format, your data is completely portable, meaning you can move it to any other device or application whenever you choose without needing a special conversion tool.
Version History
v1.2.0——19 Aug 2026
Chronofile is a minimalist, privacy-focused open-source time tracking app. Log daily activities 100% offline with local plain-text storage. Download the latest version of Chronofile to enjoy new features and updates immediately!
*1.2.0
Added map view
Added correlation matrix and histogram charts
*1.1.1
Excluded dependency info
*1.1.0
Implemented support for creating activity entries via NFC
Fixed time display after changing time zones
