How waishnav/watcher works
<explanation>
1. Identify the project type and purpose
- This is a minimal open‑source, cross‑platform CLI application called “Watcher” that tracks screen‑time by polling the operating system for idle time (xprintidle) and active window events (xdotool), logs them, and provides summaries (day/week).
2. Analyze the file structure
- Top level:
• install / uninstall / update scripts – OS‐level bootstrap and teardown.
• src/Watcher – Python package containing core logic.
• src/bin/watcher – CLI entry point.
• misc/export_to_2.0 – migration utilities for version 2.0 logfile format.
- src/Watcher sub‑modules:
• get_windows.py: invokes external tools to capture current window and idle time.
• time_operations.py: computes durations from timestamps.
• watch_log.py: appends events to a local logfile.
• analysis.py: reads logfile and aggregates data into day/week summaries.
• afk.py: (planned) filters out AFK time.
• commands.py: parses CLI arguments and dispatches to recording vs reporting.
3. Insights from README
- External dependencies: xprintidle and xdotool.
- Outputs: CLI reports with ASCII tables or simple text summaries.
- No database—logfile is the only persistence.
- Future: Go migration branch, GUI planned for stars.
4. Main components & interactions for the system diagram
a. Components:
1. User (CLI invocation)
2. CLI Frontend (src/bin/watcher + commands.py)
3. Core Processor (Watcher package modules)
• get_windows → polls OS
• time_operations → computes durations
• watch_log → writes to logfile
• analysis → reads logfile to produce reports
• afk → filters AFK time (future)
4. Local Logfile (e.g., ~/.watcher/log.txt)
5. OS-level External Services (xprintidle, xdotool)
6. Bootstrap Scripts (install, uninstall, update)
b. Relationships & data flow:
- Arrow: User → CLI Frontend (issue commands).
- CLI Frontend → Core Processor modules (invoke record or report flows).
- get_windows ↔ External Tools (shell calls to gather window/idle time).
- get_windows → time_operations → watch_log → Logfile (persist events).
- analysis → Logfile (read persisted data) → commands → CLI (render summary).
- afk (in the pipeline) intercepts get_windows/time_operations to filter out idle.
c. Architectural patterns/design principles
- Modular separation of concerns: I/O (get_windows), processing (time_operations), persistence (watch_log), reporting (analysis), CLI (commands).
- Single source of truth: logfile as append‑only event store.
- CLI Front Controller: commands.py routes user actions to modules.
d. Key technologies/frameworks
- Python3 standard library
- External OS utilities: xprintidle, xdotool
- Bash scripts for install/uninstall/update
5. Tailoring the diagram to this CLI application
- Emphasize the separation of CLI layer vs core library modules vs OS interactions.
- Show logfile as the only persistent “database.”
- Highlight shell calls as external dependencies.
- Mark future components (AFK filter, Go migration) as dashed boxes or different color to indicate WIP.
6. Diagramming guidelines
- Use clear labels for each component box: e.g., “CLI Frontend,” “get_windows,” “Logfile,” “External Tools.”
- Draw directional arrows for data flow: e.g., polling → compute → persist → read → report.
- Use color coding or shapes:
• Rectangles for Python modules
• Cylinder for Logfile (persistence)
• Clouds or external service icons for xprintidle/xdotool
• Rounded rectangle for CLI entry point
• Hexagon or distinct shape for install scripts
- Optionally group related modules in a container labeled “Watcher Python Package.”
7. Detailed capturing of architecture
- Container “Watcher Python Package” containing: get_windows, time_operations, watch_log, analysis, afk.
- CLI box (“watcher” script) pointing into that container.
- External Tools box at the outside with bidirectional arrow to get_windows.
- Logfile cylinder inside or adjacent to the package with arrows from watch_log (write) and to analysis (read).
- Annotate arrow labels: “poll window + idle time,” “compute duration,” “write event,” “read events,” “render summary.”
- Depict install/uninstall/update scripts as separate processes that write the watcher binary (or symlink) into user’s PATH.
By following these instructions, the principal engineer can produce a comprehensive system‑design diagram that clearly shows all modules, their interactions, dependencies on external tools, and the data flow from user invocation down to logfile persistence and back up to report generation.