WhatPulse 5.10 is here, and it's packed with upgrades—both on the surface and under the hood.

From accurate multi-display heat maps and smarter gamepad tracking to better network stats and faster performance with large datasets, this release is about making WhatPulse more precise, more responsive, and simply nicer to use.

A huge thank you to everyone who tested the early versions and sent in feedback—this one's for you.

🖱️ Multi-display mouse heat maps​

The mouse heatmap now recognizes your entire display setup and maps clicks to the correct monitor. You can zoom into a single screen or see everything at once—ideal for anyone with a dual- or triple-monitor workspace.

Along the way, we refreshed the visuals, improved rendering speed, and added a cap to export sizes (800px wide), so even big heatmaps load and export more smoothly.

🎮 Smarter gamepad support​

Controllers from Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and 8BitDo now have correct button layouts. WhatPulse detects the manufacturer and automatically applies the right configuration—so you won't see swapped or missing buttons anymore.

We also reworked how gamepad input is counted, so button presses and releases are now handled the same way as mouse clicks and key taps. This fixes skipped inputs on controllers like the PS5 DualSense and lays the groundwork for supporting more types in future updates.

📊 The Application Activity chart now scrolls back in time​

You can now scroll smoothly through the Application Activity chart beyond the usual 24-hour view. Whether you're analyzing productivity patterns or trying to figure out what app hijacked your Friday afternoon, you can now scroll back and dig in.

🌐 Better network stats​

We've started counting internet traffic separately from local traffic. You won't see it in the interface just yet, but you can already export it via the Export Wizard.

WhatPulse also now uses full packet capture (PCAP) again—ditching the older OS counters that weren't always reliable. The packet buffer is larger (256MB), immediate mode is enabled, and NIC buffering has been improved across platforms.

This upgrade means better accuracy and support for monitoring up to 10Gbit/s of traffic. Yes, really.

🌙 Dark mode refresh​

Dark theme lovers, rejoice! The app's dark mode has been updated to match the new WhatPulse website. It's sharper, sleeker, and easier on the eyes—especially if you're checking stats late at night.

⚡ Performance & reliability improvements​

Building on the performance enhancements of WhatPulse 5.9, a lot changed behind the scenes to make WhatPulse smoother and faster:

• App and database loading is significantly faster, even with years of local data.
• We introduced weekly database integrity checks and auto-repair for structural issues, improving long-term reliability.
• Interface lag is reduced, thanks to a new caching system.

If you've been using WhatPulse for a long time—or on multiple computers—this update should feel snappier right away.

🧠 Smarter incident handling​

• WhatPulse is now more resilient when your computer sleeps and wakes. We added more checks to avoid duplicate events and rare crashes.
• Network requests now have timeouts, so if something hangs, the app won't stay stuck in a “busy” state.
• The app can now log helpful stack traces in case of a crash, which will make troubleshooting easier if things ever go sideways.

🐧 Linux fixes & compatibility​

Linux users get a few quality-of-life improvements, including:

• Proper detection of light/dark theme settings
• Better window dragging on GNOME
• Correct toolbar button placement
• Support for detecting displays in mouse tracking

🐞 Bug fixes​

Here's a roundup of some of the most impactful fixes in 5.10:

• The keyboard heat map now groups apps more cleanly and shows full paths in tooltips.
• Windows: Fixed UAC prompts appearing for some users during update checks.
• Fixed a bug where deleting a profile caused its stats to be added to global totals (duplicating the stats).
• Fixed an issue where the updater didn't appear to upgrade the app, even though it did.
• Mouse details no longer show stale button data when switching time ranges, making the overview more accurate.
• Clicks at coordinates 0,0 are exiled for good, so you won't see clicks congregating at the top-left corner of your screen.
• Uptime chart no longer stretches the Y-axis to 24 hours when no data is present.
• Fixed a styling issue where startup error messages were unreadable if the app failed badly.
• Network time series now groups correctly by hour and day on multi-adapter systems (not used yet, but groundwork is in place).
• Fixed a bug where the Client API Swagger UI returned JSON instead of loading the page.

Be quick and collect the 5.10 badge!​

To celebrate the release, we're giving out a special 5.10 badge to anyone who upgrades to WhatPulse 5.10 in the next week (so before June 24th, 2025).

How to update​

You can grab WhatPulse 5.10 from the Downloads page or check for updates inside the app.

Already using it? We'd love to hear what you think. Join us on Discord or send feedback straight from your dashboard.

Thanks again to everyone who helped test this release—onward to the next one!

Martijn & the WhatPulse team

We've got a small but fun update if you're a TypeTest user and part of the WhatPulse community (or vice versa): you can now log in to TypeTest.io with your WhatPulse account. No new passwords. No switching tabs to figure out which email you signed up with. Just one account to rule them all.

And yep, that also means your WhatPulse profile and your typing stats are finally starting to talk to each other.

With this new login integration:​

• You can use your WhatPulse credentials to log into TypeTest
• If you already had a TypeTest account, it will automatically connect based on your email address
• Your TypeTest tests will now include a link to your WhatPulse profile
• And soon, you'll be able to show off your typing stats directly on your WhatPulse profile 🤫

If you're already a WhatPulse user, it's a no-brainer. Your data becomes more connected, more meaningful—and yeah, a bit more fun.

What to expect when logging in​

When you hit Login with WhatPulse on the TypeTest website, you'll be redirected to whatpulse.org to securely log in. Once authenticated, you'll land back on TypeTest, now signed in and connected. This also means that two-factor authentication (2FA) is supported, so your account security remains top-notch.

If you had an existing TypeTest account, it'll link up automatically—as long as your email addresses match. So double-check that your WhatPulse and TypeTest accounts use the same email for the smoothest experience.

And if you're new to TypeTest? No problem. A fresh account will be created and linked to your WhatPulse profile.

Improved account dropdown, too​

We also added a shiny new account dropdown on the TypeTest site. It makes it much easier to access your profile, see your tests, and manage your account.

It's not just about logging in; it's about making everything more seamless.

What's next?​

We're working on deeper integration between WhatPulse and TypeTest, so your typing stats can become part of the bigger picture—right next to your keystrokes, mouse clicks, and app usage.

We'll be adding typing test results directly to your WhatPulse public profile soon, so keep an eye out. And if you've got ideas for how else these two should connect, drop by the Discord and let us know.

Happy typing!

Martijn & the WhatPulse team

Hey everyone! I wanted to share something a bit different today - a productivity tool that I've been quietly using for months to keep myself focused and motivated. It's called Deep Work Streaks, and after several WhatPulse users asked if they could use it too, I decided to polish it up and make it available at whatpulse.org/deepworkstreaks.

The story behind it​

Like many, I struggle with staying focused with so many distractions. I've tried countless productivity apps, but they all seemed to be missing something - that satisfying feeling of maintaining a streak, that little dopamine hit you get when you see your progress visualized over time. Sound familiar? That's because it's the same principle that makes WhatPulse so fun!

So I built something for myself: a simple app that combines focused work sessions with streak tracking. I've been using it daily for months now, and honestly, it's become an essential part of my routine. The visual feedback of seeing my streak grow has been incredibly motivating.

What is Deep Work Streaks?​

At its core, the app is built around Cal Newport's concept of "deep work" - the ability to focus without distraction on cognitively demanding tasks. But I've made it flexible enough to work however you prefer:

The timer​

• Classic Pomodoro: 25-minute focus sessions with 5-minute breaks (fully customizable)
• Extended Deep Work: Crank up the timer to 2-3 hours if you're in the zone
• Flexible Breaks: Short breaks for quick sessions, longer breaks for extended work

The tasks​

• Simple task list to keep track of what you're working on today
• Task templates for common workflows (I have templates for "Writing content," "Feature building," "Planning the month," etc.)
• Complete tasks to extend your streak

The beautiful part: Streaks​

Both completing tasks AND finishing timer sessions extend your streak. You can use them together or separately - whatever works for your workflow. The app even includes weekend grace periods, so you won't break your streak if you choose to take weekends off.

Privacy and simplicity​

It's completely separate from WhatPulse accounts. No login required, no data sent anywhere - everything is stored locally in your browser. Your data stays on your device, period. Just you, your tasks, and your focus time.

How I use it (and how you might too)​

My typical workflow looks like this:

1. Start my day by reviewing my task templates and adding specific tasks
2. Fire up a 90-minute deep work session for coding or writing
3. Take a proper break (I actually step away from the computer)
4. Maybe do a few 25-minute Pomodoros for smaller tasks throughout the rest of the day
5. Glee at the streak visualization as it grows

But the beauty is in its flexibility. Some days I just use the timer without any tasks - perfect for reading or research where I don't have specific deliverables. Other days I focus purely on task completion without timing myself. Both approaches maintain the streak.

What's next?​

Right now, this is a standalone tool that has zero connection to WhatPulse accounts. There's a small possibility we might add optional WhatPulse integration in the future - imagine seeing your deep work streaks alongside your keystroke and click stats! But that's very much a "maybe someday" feature, and it depends entirely on how much people enjoy using the current version.

The app works perfectly as-is, and honestly, there's something pure about keeping it simple and local.

Try it out!​

Head over to whatpulse.org/deepworkstreaks and give it a spin. No account creation, no commitments - just open the page and start your first session. I'm curious to hear what you think and how you end up using it.

Will it work for everyone? Probably not. But if you're someone who gets motivated by streaks, enjoys the satisfaction of completing tasks, and wants to build better focus habits, it might just become as essential to your routine as it has become to mine.

Let me know on Discord how it goes - I'd love to hear about your workflows and whether the streak visualization gives you the same little dopamine hit that it gives me!

Happy focusing!

Martijn

It's time to say goodbye (gradually) to some very old parts of the website. Over the coming months, you might notice a few visual changes as you browse different parts of whatpulse.org. That's not your browser playing tricks—it's us, starting the process of moving to a brand-new website framework.

This new framework is designed to be faster, more flexible, and improve the website's overall performance. It'll work much better on mobile devices, is more accessible, and looks a lot more awesome.

This transition won't happen all at once. Parts of the site will look a little different before everything matches up again. But under the hood, the real change is already making a big difference.

Why change the framework now?​

The previous website framework was built over 12 years ago. And while it's been a solid workhorse, it's also been a bit... stubborn. Adding modern features, fixing bugs, or even making small UI updates often meant fighting with legacy code. That slows everything down—not ideal when we have a huge list of things we want to add and improve.

The new framework is built for speed, flexibility, and modern features. It's going to let us roll out new features faster and iterate much more easily. From better user dashboards to smoother onboarding, there's a lot we've been wanting to bring to life—and now we can.

You've already been using it (kind of)​

Fun fact: this new framework has been quietly powering the communication between the WhatPulse app and the website for the past few months. That's how we were able to roll out new features to the app more quickly. It's been battle-tested behind the scenes, and now it's time for the rest of the website to catch up.

What to expect during the transition​

• You might see pages that look slightly different from one another—that's temporary.
• Some things might move or be renamed as we streamline and modernize navigation.
• All your data, settings, and stats will continue to work as usual.

Once the full transition is complete, you can expect a more cohesive experience that's easier to use—and much easier for us to improve over time.

What's next?​

After the framework rollout, we'll start diving into our backlog of wishlist items for the website. Some of these requests have been around for years, and we're excited to finally have the tools to make them happen.

As always, if you spot anything strange or want to share feedback, we're listening. Just drop us a note through the contact page, or reach out on Discord.

Thanks for being part of the WhatPulse community—we can't wait to show you what's next.

Button presses on your gamepads now count toward your click stats in WhatPulse, thanks to brand-new 🎮 gamepad support!

With this update, you can track your usage of individual gamepad buttons—whether you're button-mashing X to strike in FIFA or carefully controlling the throttle in Forza using the R2 and L2 triggers.

On top of that, WhatPulse now distinguishes between multiple mouse buttons, and a new input engine for Windows improves tracking for devices like gamepads, ensuring more reliable stats even in games like Grand Theft Auto V.

Let's dive into the details!

🎮 What does Gamepad support do?​

As soon as your controller is connected to your PC, WhatPulse starts tracking your button presses. Almost any controller will work, whether it connects via Bluetooth, USB, or RF signal. Every button is tracked individually—whether you're using a PS5 DualSense, an Xbox 360 controller, or anything in between.

WhatPulse intercepts the signals sent to your computer when you press a button, counts them, and logs them just like mouse clicks.

📊 How do I see the new Gamepad data in WhatPulse?​

You can find your gamepad stats under the Mouse Input section of the WhatPulse app:

1. Click the Input button at the top of the app window.
2. Select the Mouse tab.
3. Select the Details at the top right dropdown.
4. You'll see a breakdown of both your mouse clicks and gamepad button presses.

The Button Clicks section shows you each individual button you've pressed on your gamepads and indicate how many times it was pressed, counting as a Click for WhatPulse statistic purposes.

Every button is counted individually, and you'll be able to not only see the common buttons like A, B, R1 and R2, but even buttons like Gamepad Down or additional triggers on more advanced controllers.

This means your gamepad presses can now count towards your overall click statistics, helping you climb those leaderboards even quicker if you tend to game more with a gamepad versus a keyboard and mouse.

It also means in games like Tekken, you'll finally be rewarded for remembering all those button mashing combos.

See it in action​

If you'd like to see this awesome new feature in action, you can check out this snippet from our recent video announcing all the new things in WhatPulse 5.9.

We're excited to finally launch gamepad support, and we can't wait to see the most popular games among our users.

What will you play first?