Hi 👋

Introducing a feature we've been working on for quite some time: WhatPulse Profiles! 🎉

That's right - Premium members can now create Profiles from within WhatPulse version 5.8 letting you group together your stats depending on who, or what you are working on.

For example, you can create separate profiles for your gaming time to see how much WASD keysmashing you're doing, and then switch to a profile to track your time and statistics related to a client you are delivering work for.

Once you are done with your profile-related tracking, simply switch back to the 'General' profile to monitor your overall statistics.

Whether you are a professional, gamer or student - WhatPulse Profiles give you the power to segment your own personas and keep better track of those unique statistics.

Managing Profiles​

It's nice and easy to manage Profiles from within WhatPulse from the Settings tab and navigating to the Profiles section. Here's how:

Once they've been set up, the Profiles can then be activated and deactivated from the tray icon menu, making it quick and easy to switch between profiles or turn them off completely.

Reporting on Profile Related Statistics​

Once you've tracked stats related to your different Profiles for a while, you can filter and segment these statistics for the ultimate deep-dive analysis - just select the profile in the top-right drop-down from any page within the WhatPulse client that already shows statistics.

More powerful statistics - including the powerful 'Time Used' - are all accessible and configurable from your private WhatPulse Dashboard on our website.

Profile Reports in Weekly Updates​

Every Monday, you can get a weekly update report in your inbox showing how you (and your friends) did in the last week. When you start using Profiles, a report on the time and effort you spent on them is automatically added to your weekly update. Know how much time you've spent on projects, directly from your inbox.

Stream Deck Plugin and Automation​

If you're not familiar with Stream Deck, it's a customizable physical control pad that allows you to automate tasks and control various applications with physical buttons. There's been a WhatPulse plugin for Stream Deck for a while, allowing you to display real-time stats on the Stream Deck.

With this update, we've even made it easy to physically toggle between Profiles using the buttons on your Stream Deck thanks to some nifty new additions to the WhatPulse Stream Deck plugin. For even more flexibility, you can integrate automation to activate and deactivate profiles using the Client API.

Help Articles and More Information​

We have plenty more information on how to do things such as creating or deleting Profiles and generally making the most out of our new Profiles feature on our Help Center:

• Introduction into Profiles
• Creating and Managing Profiles
• Reporting Profile Stats

Remember, WhatPulse Profiles are available exclusively to our Premium members. If you are not yet subscribed, you can learn more here about Premium and its advanced statistics.

We're really excited to see how our members make use of this long-awaited feature and we welcome any questions or feedback via our Discord server or X profile!

Start a Free Premium Trial​

If you're not a Premium member yet, you can experience what Profiles have to offer by starting a free trial. Even if you've had a trial period in the past.

More Updates in WhatPulse v5.8​

Profiles isn't the only new or updated thing in WhatPulse v5.8. Here's a quick overview of all the other changes:

🎉 New Features​

• To improve developer experience, we added an OpenAPI specification to the Client API, and http://127.0.0.1:3490/ is now using Swagger UI.
• Windows: Add an option to install for all users on the computer.

📈 Improvements​

• Added a feedback notification when settings are saved, so you're 💯 sure they are saved.
• macOS: Improve network interface detection. Sometimes with computers with multiple interfaces, the last interface wasn't detected properly.
• macOS: Updated the Apple computers model database to recognize the newer models.
• Be more verbose about why connections are rejected from the client API in the HTTP responses. Also, add the dual stack localhost address by default (::ffff:127.0.0.1).

🐛 Bug Fixes​

• Fix translating dates inside the facts.
• Make sure all updating the Geek Window transparency has immediate effect on all Windows versions, there were some versions where this didn't work and you had to restart WhatPulse for the transparency to take effect.
• Prevent the real-time network traffic graph to draw funky backtracking lines by clearing the data when it's not being updated, or the chart united (bits vs bytes) are changed.
• Windows: Fixed application metadata discovery (version, vendor, etc.) on some Windows versions.
• When ignoring an application in the uptime tab, the client asked whether you wanted to reset the Geek Window to its defaults. This fixes that misplaced message.
• Skip npcap installation when WhatPulse is being installed via the command-line. Otherwise it would still pop up a GUI for the NPcap installer.

In a world buzzing with distractions, notifications, and tasks competing for your attention, distinguishing what truly matters can feel like an insurmountable challenge. If you're a productivity enthusiast or someone perpetually drowning in a sea of to-dos, fear not! The solution lies in simplifying your approach. Welcome to the philosophy of focusing on 'one-thing' per day. By leveraging this method, not only will you boost your productivity, but you'll also gain deeper insights into the metrics that truly matter in your quest for efficiency.

The Paradox of Choice​

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of the 'one-thing' productivity method, let's address a common productivity pitfall: the paradox of choice. In theory, having a myriad of options should make us happier. But in reality, it often leaves us overwhelmed. The constant juggle between tasks dilutes our focus and impacts the quality of our output.

Barry Schwartz, author of "The Paradox of Choice", posits that too many choices can paralyze rather than empower. If you're scrolling through an endless task list, your brain is more likely to short-circuit than streamline. The solution? Mindful elimination. By homing in on a single important task daily, we reduce decision fatigue, thereby enhancing our overall productivity and sense of accomplishment.

The Power of Prioritization​

The concept of prioritization can be traced back to the Pareto Principle, often referred to as the 80/20 Rule. According to this principle, 80% of results come from 20% of your activities. For productivity geeks, this implies that a handful of high-impact tasks yield the majority of your results.

Laura Vanderkam, productivity expert and author, emphasizes the importance of identifying these high-leverage activities. But how do you pinpoint them?

1. Identify Your Core Goals: What are you aiming to achieve, both in the short and long term? Clarity of purpose enables better prioritization.

2. Analyze Past Performance: Tools like WhatPulse can help. Monitor your keyboard and mouse usage to identify patterns in productivity. Are certain activities yielding higher productivity spikes? Focus on those.

3. Time Budgeting: Allocate blocks of time for these high-priority tasks. Use the Pomodoro Technique to stay disciplined.

The 'One-Thing' Focus​

Now, let's zoom in on the crux of this productivity strategy: focusing on one key task per day. This concept, popularized by Gary Keller in his book "The ONE Thing", advocates that focusing on the singular task that makes other tasks easier or unnecessary is the key to moving mountains in your personal and professional life.

How to Implement This​

1. Daily Reflection: Each day, take a few moments to reflect on what task will have the most significant impact. This reflection should take place preferably the night before or first thing in the morning.

2. Set Clear Objectives: Define what success looks like for the day. This clarity acts as a compass, steering you towards meaningful progress.

3. Break It Down: Split the 'one-thing' into manageable chunks. Let's say your task is to write a blog post—ahem—break it into an outline, first draft, editing, and final review phases.

4. Eliminate Distractions: Close those ubiquitous social media tabs. Silence non-essential notifications. According to productivity studies, these disruptions can cost you up to 23 minutes to regain focus.

5. Track Progress: Tools like WhatPulse can quantify your activity and keep you accountable. Seeing your stats can be an excellent motivator.

6. Review and Adjust: At the end of the day, evaluate your performance. Did you achieve your 'one-thing'? If not, what impediments stood in your way? This iterative process allows you to refine your approach continually.

Leveraging Technology​

In this digitized era, manual tracking feels like cooking a gourmet meal using a caveman’s toolkit. Enter WhatPulse, an indispensable companion for any productivity aficionado. WhatPulse offers detailed insights into application usage, allowing you to analyze where and how your time is being spent.

Maximizing WhatPulse for 'One-Thing':​

• Actionable Insights: Identify periods of peak productivity. Aim to schedule your 'one-thing' during these windows.
• Reduction of Redundancies: Track unnecessary clicks or keystrokes to simplify your workflow.
• Comparative Analysis: Measure your performance on 'one-thing' days versus multi-tasking days. The metrics will speak for themselves—focus trumps frenzy.

Continuous Improvement​

The 'one-thing' philosophy isn't a set-it-and-forget-it solution. It requires ongoing commitment and refinement.

• Kaizen Approach: Originally a Japanese business philosophy, Kaizen focuses on continuous improvement. Implement small, incremental changes to make your 'one-thing' focus more effective over time.
• Feedback Loop: Engage with peers, mentors, or even productivity forums. External perspectives can offer invaluable input and shed light on blind spots.
• Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or deep work sessions. These techniques enhance focus and mitigate the risk of burnout.

The Road to Mastery​

Mastering productivity is akin to mastering an instrument—practice, feedback, and persistence are non-negotiable. The 'one-thing' method simplifies this journey, granting you the cognitive liberty to focus on what truly matters. For those obsessed with numbers and optimization, the quantifiable metrics provided by WhatPulse can transform your productivity strategy into a data-driven masterpiece.

You don't have to climb Mount Everest to feel accomplished. Sometimes, the vista from a well-climbed hill can be equally satisfying. Remember, meaningful productivity isn't about doing more; it's about doing what matters most.

If you've ever installed WhatPulse on a Windows computer, you have probably seen a popup asking to install NPcap. The installer mentions something about using it for network monitoring, but what is NPcap exactly? This blog post aims to demystify NPcap, explaining its functions, installation requirements, and its interaction with WhatPulse.

What is NPcap?​

NPcap is a packet capture library for Windows, widely respected for its performance and compatibility between versions of Windows. It serves as a core component for network monitoring and analysis applications, capturing network traffic on the network interface directly and providing detailed insights into the network traffic goingin and out of a computer. It's essential for developers, network administrators, and cybersecurity experts who need to diagnose network issues or monitor traffic for suspicious activities.

How Does NPcap Work?​

At its core, NPcap works by operating deep in the kernel of the Windows operating system, which allows it to intercept and log network traffic that passes through network interfaces—be it Ethernet (cabled), WiFi, or others. This low-level operation is crucial for capturing a detailed and accurate snapshot of network activity without missing a beat.

Because it's so low-level, it's required to use administrative permissions to install NPcap.

No NPcap?​

If NPcap isn't available on a computer, WhatPulse uses network interface counters as a fallback mechanism. These counter provide basic statistics about the network traffic being transmitted and received over the network. While they do not offer the same level of detail as NPcap, they still allow WhatPulse to gather useful network statistics. These counters are less invasive and do not require administrator privileges, making them an excellent alternative for users who prefer not to install additional software.

However, the statistics will be limited to network interface stats only. Without NPcap, there will be no per-application, geographical, or protocol network stats. Network statistics collected through the network interface counters are also not sent to the website, so they do not count towards the unpulsed stats.

Types of Network Statistics Gathered by WhatPulse​

WhatPulse collects different types of network statistics, which provide insights into computer behavior and network efficiency. These include:

• Data Usage: Total bytes sent and received.
• Network Activity: Timestamped stats of active usage that's used for the real-time network traffic chart.
• Application Data: Network usage per application, which helps identify which apps consume the most bandwidth.
• Geographic Statistics: Data usage distributed by location, useful for tracking where your data is going to and coming from.

Conclusion​

NPcap provides a deep level of monitoring by capturing every packet on the network, while WhatPulse offers a user-friendly interface to view and analyze this data. Whether you're a casual user curious about your network usage or a power user seeking to optimize network performance, these tools provide valuable insights into your network.

Hi 👋

Welcome, WhatPulse enthusiasts! I’m thrilled to introduce the latest version of WhatPulse, version 5.7, packed with a new features, a ton of improvements and bug fixes to help elevate your user experience. Let's delve into a few key highlights of this release:

🎉 New Features​

• Brazilian Portuguese Language: WhatPulse now offers a Brazilian Portuguese translation, enriching accessibility for Portuguese-speaking users thanks to Éder Magalhães Machado's contribution.
• Windows Installer Update: You can now install WhatPulse without requiring Administrative permissions. This is an alternative to using Portable Mode on computers where you don’t have any administrative permissions (like a work computer). More information here.

📈 Improvements​

• SSL Libraries now included for Linux: The AppImage now consistently loads bundled OpenSSL libraries, preventing SSL errors due to version disparities. You’d get SSL errors when trying to log in before.
• macOS Compatibility: Dynamically detects whether the device runs on Intel or Apple Silicon-based systems, ensuring you receive the correct version during updates.
• Client API Enhancements: Improved REST API functionality with consistent JSON format headers for seamless connectivity. This could’ve led to delays when calling the Client API in the previous release.
• Windows Registry Optimization: The installer now uniformly uses 'WhatPulse' as its registry key, ensuring accurate version tracking across applications. Apps like UCheck Software Updater can now correctly see the latest WhatPulse version.

🐛 Bug Fixes​

• Settings: Resolved an issue where disabling auto pulse settings failed to save correctly, and settings with inputs were not editable when the Geek Window was open.
• Uptime Calendar Bug: Fixed a crash related to fast navigation through the uptime calendar.
• A bug that could cause the application to crash if a backup took too long has been fixed.
• Fixed keyboard heat map sharing to your online profile.

There’s even more improvements and bug fixes included in version 5.7, these were the highlights. Check out the release notes for a full list!

How to update​

Version 5.7 is now available when you use the Check for Updates function, and you can download it from: https://whatpulse.org/downloads

As I sit down to pen this post – ironically hitting more keys that WhatPulse will count – I find myself reflecting on an incredible journey that began 20 years ago. WhatPulse started as a simple idea: to track the number of keystrokes and mouse clicks. Little did I know, it would grow into a vibrant community of people, each sharing a piece of their digital lives.

The early days​

Back in 2004, the concept of WhatPulse was born out of a mixture of curiosity and fun. It was the era of early internet communities, some on IRC, and the idea of tracking keystrokes and mouse clicks seemed like a neat way to gamify our computer usage. Our first version was basic and based on the soon-to-be-shutdown Project Dolphin, but the enthusiasm from early adopters was anything but. I remember the thrill of seeing our first user outside our initial test group on the WhatNET IRC servers – someone from across the globe, sharing in our little creation.

Milestone: The first million​

In 2005, we hit our first significant milestone: one million keystrokes tracked. This was more than just a number; it was a testament to our growing community. It was around this time that we realized WhatPulse wasn't just a tool, but a window into the digital behavior of people worldwide.

More stats: WhatPulse 2.0​

The launch of WhatPulse 2.0 in 2012 marked a significant leap. With new features like network monitoring and uptime tracking, we weren't just counting keys and clicks anymore. We were exploring the broader aspects of computing behavior. The introduction of team competitions added a communal dimension that resonated with our users, turning solitary computing into a shared experience and competition.

A global reach​

I'll never forget the day in 2014 when we realized we had users in over 100 countries. It was a surreal moment – a little project that started as fun idea and supported my programming school classes, was now a global phenomenon. Each user brought their unique digital footprint, painting a diverse and vivid picture of computer usage worldwide.

Power of Community​

Our community has always been the heart of WhatPulse. In 2016, we hosted our first user meetup. It was a surreal experience to meet face-to-face with people who shared a passion for our little application. Their stories – from using WhatPulse in professional gaming to academic research – were as diverse as they were inspiring. The only thing I regret is not to keep doing these.

“Those are some pretty stats.”​

In 2016, we launched the dynamic dashboard that continuous to hold all your account statistics in one place. It was the first time we had a real-time and fully customisable canvas on which you can put any WhatPulse statistic you want in all shapes and sizes; charts, graphs, tables and dynamic text.

Application-centric stats​

One of the recurring themes with conversations with WhatPulses’ users were applications. You wanted to know which type of applications you were spending time in, typing and clicking in, and which were using up your network bandwidth. In 2021, the social applications were launched, making it possible to see what kind of apps you are using (productive, games, communication apps, etc.). They all got a nice profile page and we started accepting community contributions to make sure the application information (description, category, tags, etc.) is correct.

From side-project to something more​

So far, WhatPulse has been a side-project with mostly myself running the website and software with help from a few volunteers. Shout out to my business partner James Newton, and Krzysztof Setlak, Zach Bloomquist, Ash Pearson, and Scott Byzcek (rip). This is why 2021 was also a big year for me personally, as I transitioned from working for an employer, to working for myself. Among a few other things like MuteDeck, WhatPulse now has my full time focus.

Where’s the cake?​

I was wondering the same thing, but the cake is coming! Before the summer of 2024, we’re going to celebrate the 20th with our community. We’re planning a few cool contests with prizes (cake!) on our Discord server. Be sure to join the fun there. More info soon.

20 Years and beyond: Looking forward​

As we celebrate two decades of WhatPulse, it's not just about looking back but also looking forward. I’m excited about the future, driven by the same curiosity and passion that started this journey. Our community continues to be the guiding star, inspiring us to innovate and improve. There’s some cool stuff planned for the next year(s), and we’re far from done. 🙂

Thank you for joining us!