ScreenGuard Brings Digital Wellbeing and App Limits to Linux
Open-source tool offers screen time tracking and focus modes for Linux desktop users.
1Linux Digital Wellbeing Tool
ScreenGuard is a new open-source desktop application designed to bring Android-style digital wellbeing features to Linux users. It provides comprehensive screen time tracking, daily application usage limits, and focus mode capabilities. The project aims to help users manage their digital habits directly on their desktop environments with privacy-first principles.
2Core Functionality and Features
The application includes a dashboard with interactive charts for visualizing daily and weekly app usage. Users can set custom quotas for specific applications, receiving notifications at a 90% threshold. Once a limit is reached, the software triggers a lockout overlay, effectively minimizing the active window to enforce user-defined digital boundaries.
3Focus Mode and Productivity
ScreenGuard features an integrated Pomodoro timer with configurable focus and break cycles. During active sessions, the tool acts as a distraction blocker by automatically minimizing or closing specified applications. This functionality helps users maintain concentration by preventing access to distracting software while the timer is running in the background.
4Technical Architecture and Backend
The software consists of a Flutter-based graphical user interface and a lightweight background daemon written in Dart. It utilizes a SQLite database in write-ahead logging mode to store session data locally. On GNOME Wayland, it leverages a shell extension, while X11 environments use standard EWMH queries for window management.
5Privacy and Data Handling
Privacy is a central pillar of the project, as all session data remains stored locally on the user's machine. No cloud accounts or third-party tracking mechanisms are utilized. While anonymous diagnostics are enabled by default to report crash traces, users can opt out entirely through the application's settings menu.
6Installation and Compatibility
ScreenGuard supports various Linux distributions through APT repositories, Fedora Copr, and custom Arch Linux repositories. It is currently optimized for GNOME Wayland, with community testing ongoing for X11-based desktop environments. Users are encouraged to provide environment details and screenshots when reporting bugs to assist the developer in troubleshooting specific configurations.
7Development Roadmap and Future
The project is currently in its early stages, with version 1.5 targeting a performance-focused port of the background daemon to C. Future development plans prioritize deepening existing features rather than broad expansion. The maintainer actively encourages community contributions via GitHub, welcoming pull requests to enhance the tool's stability and functionality.
8Transparency in AI Usage
In the spirit of open-source transparency, the developer has provided a breakdown of how AI tooling was utilized during the creation of ScreenGuard. This approach aims to maintain clear attribution for the code and design elements. The project remains distributed under the GNU General Public License version 3.0 for all users.
9Significance for Linux Users
ScreenGuard fills a notable gap in the Linux ecosystem by providing native, privacy-focused productivity tools previously limited to mobile platforms. By offering granular control over app usage and distraction blocking, it empowers users to manage their digital health effectively. Its open-source nature ensures that the community can audit and improve the software.