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Table of Contents

• Introduction
  • Compile shift From Source
    • Verify/Run the Executable
  • Or Download a Binary
• Installation
• How shift Works
  • What Kind of Data Is Stored?
  • Storing Data Into Timesheets
  • Storing Data Into a SQLite Instance
• How To Use shift
  • Clocking In
  • Clocking Out
  • Check Current Status
    • If shift Is Active
    • If shift Is Inactive
  • Amend Shift Message
  • List Tracked Shifts
  • Delete a Shift
• Storage/How to Set the Storage Method
  • Display Current Storage Method
  • Set New Storage Method
• Multiple "Instances" of shift

Introduction

shift is a command-line tool for keeping track of shifts. Its primary audience is contractors (like myself) or remote workers who need to track their own hours, but it is still useful for logging time spent doing anything.

This project is inspired by Luke Schenk's Python CLI tool clck.

Installation

Compile shift From Source

You will need Go installed on your computer to compile the source code.

git clone --depth=1 git@github.com:JosephLai241/shift.git
cd shift/
go build

The executable file shift (on Linux or Mac) or shift.exe (on Windows) is created in the shift/ directory once compiling is done.

Verify/Run the Executable

Run the executable to verify shift compiled successfully.

On Linux or Mac:

./shift version

On Windows:

shift.exe version

Or Download a Binary

If you do not want to compile shift, you can also download a binary attached to each release in the Releases section.

NOTE: This program initializes and reads from files in your current working directory. Run shift in a directory in which you would like all your records and program-related files to be stored.

How shift Works

This tool is capable of storing shift data into CSV spreadsheets or a local SQLite instance. The default is CSV spreadsheets. See the Storage/How to Set the Storage Method section for information on how to configure this.

What Kind of Data Is Stored?

The following data is recorded by shift:

• Date
• Day of the Week
• Clock-in Time
• Clock-in Message
• Clock-out Time
• Clock-out Message
• Shift Duration

Storing Data Into Timesheets

The directory shifts/CURRENT_YEAR is created within the current working directory. Data is then recorded into a CSV-format timesheet titled CURRENT_MONTH.csv, located in the CURRENT_YEAR directory.

This is an example of the shifts directory structure if you ran shift sometime during July 2021:

shifts/
└── 2021
    └── July.csv

Storing Data Into a SQLite Instance

A SQLite instance shifts.db is created within the current working directory. A main YEAR table is created, containing the years that shift was run. The data is then stored in a table labeled with the current year, which is then linked to a sub-table labeled with the current month.

This is an example of the database's relationships if you ran shift sometime during July 2021:

shifts.db
└── TABLE `YEAR`
    └── TABLE `Y_2021`
        └── TABLE `M_July`

How To Use shift

Clocking In

shift in

    [-m <"OPTIONAL MESSAGE">]

Use this command to clock-in. The clock-in time is then written to the timesheet or database.

You can record a message corresponding to your clock in by including the -m flag.

The status of your current shift is displayed if you attempt to run this command when already clocked in.

Clocking Out

shift out

    [-m <"OPTIONAL MESSAGE">]

Use this command to clock-out. The clock-in time is then written to the timesheet or database.

You can record a message corresponding to your clock in by including the -m flag.

Your clock-in time and message as well as your shift duration is displayed.

A warning is displayed if you attempt to run this command when already clocked out.

Check Current Status

shift status

Use this command to display the current shift status.

If shift Is Active

If shift Is Inactive

NOTE: If you have never run shift prior to running the status command, an error message will inform you to track a shift before attempting to run the command.

Amend Shift Message

shift amend (in|out) "YOUR NEW MESSAGE"

    [-d <DATE_or_DAY_OF_THE_WEEK>]
    [-m <MONTH>]
    [-y <YEAR>]

Use this command to amend the most recent shift's clock-in or clock-out message.

If used without any optional flags, shift will target shifts recorded on the current day.

You can search for recorded shifts on a different day, month, and/or year by including the -d, -m, and/or -y flags. Combine these flags to narrow your search.

NOTE: The -d flag accepts either a day of the week or a date. Type the entire day of the week, ie. Monday, or provide the date using the MM-DD-YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY format.

NOTE: Type the entire month name when using the -m flag, ie. January.

NOTE: Type the entire year in YYYY format when using the -y flag, ie. 2021.

List Tracked Shifts

shift list [all]

    [-d <DATE_or_DAY_OF_THE_WEEK>]
    [-m <MONTH>]
    [-y <YEAR>]

Use this command to display recorded shifts.

If used without the optional positional argument all, shift will display all shifts recorded on the current day.

You can list all recorded shifts within the current month by including the all argument.

You can display the recorded shifts for a different day, month, and/or year by including the -d, -m, and/or -y flags. Combine these flags in addition to all to narrow your search.

NOTE: The -d flag accepts either a day of the week or a date. Type the entire day of the week, ie. Monday, or provide the date using the MM-DD-YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY format.

NOTE: Type the entire month name when using the -m flag, ie. January.

NOTE: Type the entire year in YYYY format when using the -y flag, ie. 2021.

Delete a Shift

shift delete

    [-d <DATE_or_DAY_OF_THE_WEEK>]
    [-m <MONTH>]
    [-y <YEAR>]

Use this command to delete a recorded shift.

If used without any optional flags, shift will target shifts recorded on the current day.

You can search for recorded shifts on a different day, month, and/or year by including the -d, -m, and/or -y flags. Combine these flags to narrow your search.

NOTE: The -d flag accepts either a day of the week or a date. Type the entire day of the week, ie. Monday, or provide the date using the MM-DD-YYYY or MM/DD/YYYY format.

NOTE: Type the entire month name when using the -m flag, ie. January.

NOTE: Type the entire year in YYYY format when using the -y flag, ie. 2021.

Storage/How to Set the Storage Method

shift storage 

    [set (timesheet|database)]

Display Current Storage Method

You can check the current storage method by using the storage command without additional sub-commands.

Set New Storage Method

You can change the storage method by including the set sub-command and providing timesheet or database as its value to switch from one to another.

NOTE: You cannot change storage options while clocked in. shift will throw an error if you attempt to do so.

Multiple "Instances" of shift

You may want to use multiple "instances" of shift. For example, if you are working two different jobs, or want to track time spent on personal projects in addition to your day job.

It is quite a simple solution - just copy the shift executable into different directories like so:

day_job/
└── shift <--- executable

URS/
└── shift <--- executable

You are now able to track the time you spent doing different things 👍