Automatic Tracking FAQ
Everything you need to know about how FlouState tracks your focus time automatically
How Automatic Tracking Works
Q: Do I need to start/stop tracking?
No! FlouState automatically tracks your coding activity as soon as you sign in. Just install the extension, authenticate, and start coding. We handle the rest.
Q: When does tracking start?
Tracking begins automatically when:
- VS Code opens and you're signed in to FlouState
- You sign in while VS Code is already open
- You return from being offline
Q: How often does data sync?
Your focus data syncs to the dashboard every 30 seconds, and we create 30-minute "focus windows" to analyze your patterns. You'll see updates in real-time on your dashboard.
Work Type Detection
Q: How do you categorize my work?
We analyze your coding patterns locally to categorize work into four types:
- Creating: High ratio of lines added, new files created
- Refactoring: Balanced adds/deletes in existing files
- Debugging: Active debug sessions, minimal code changes
- Exploring: Many file views, few changes
Q: Is debugging time counted as "unproductive"?
No! We don't judge productivity. All work types have value. We simply show you WHERE your time goes, not whether it was "productive" or not. 3 hours debugging a critical issue is valuable work.
Q: Can I see historical work type breakdowns?
Yes! After your 30-day Pro trial, free users can see the last 7 days. Pro users get unlimited history with detailed analytics showing work type trends over time.
Privacy & Performance
Q: Do you read my code?
Never! We only track metadata like timestamps, file paths, and aggregate metrics. Your actual code never leaves your machine. Work type detection happens locally in VS Code.
Q: What if I work on sensitive projects?
FlouState is privacy-first. We don't capture file contents, and you can exclude specific folders from tracking in VS Code settings. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.
Q: Does it slow down VS Code?
No. FlouState uses minimal resources - less than 0.1% CPU on average. We only analyze activity when VS Code detects changes, not continuously.
Troubleshooting
Q: My dashboard shows 0 minutes but VS Code shows time?
This usually means you're using an older version. Update to v0.2.4+ which fixes the dashboard sync issue. Your future tracking will sync properly after updating.
Q: Does it track when VS Code is open but I'm not coding?
No. We use smart idle detection - if there's no keyboard/file activity for 30 seconds, we stop counting that as active time. Your focus time reflects actual coding, not just having VS Code open.
Q: What about multiple VS Code windows?
Each window tracks independently and aggregates to your total focus time. There's no double-counting - we merge overlapping time periods.
For Users of the Manual Version
If you used FlouState before automatic tracking, here's what changed:
- No more manual start/stop - it's fully automatic now
- Your historical sessions have been converted to focus windows
- As a thank you, you have 3 months of Pro features free!
- The timer page now redirects to your focus dashboard
Still have questions?
We're here to help! Reach out if you need any assistance.