Monitor computer use time

Question

I would like to monitor the time I spend using my computer. The time spent on each program would be a nice plus, but not necessary. Uptime would not be sufficient since the computer I may leave the computer on. I am guessing there is some app to do this, but I would also be ok with a more bottom up solution (e.g., monitoring activity from user inputs or X11 to determine if the computer is being used and then keeping a log).

Answer 1

Unfortunately this answer doesn't do everything you want but they are bash scripts you could modify.

First solution would be to have your machine automatically suspend when inactive. Then this script can be used:

$ suspendtime
Nov 10 13:51:52 to Nov 10 18:43:27 suspended 4 hours, 51 minutes, 35 seconds
Nov 11 00:33:26 to Nov 11 07:48:14 suspended 7 hours, 14 minutes, 48 seconds
Nov 11 13:23:28 to Nov 11 18:30:26 suspended 5 hours, 6 minutes, 58 seconds
Nov 11 21:48:00 to Nov 12 04:24:46 suspended 6 hours, 36 minutes, 46 seconds
Nov 12 05:51:51 to Nov 12 17:43:22 suspended 11 hours, 51 minutes, 31 seconds
Nov 12 21:51:33 to Nov 13 04:21:19 suspended 6 hours, 29 minutes, 46 seconds
Nov 13 05:54:53 to Nov 13 18:55:32 suspended 13 hours, 39 seconds
Nov 13 20:27:03 to Nov 13 23:11:23 suspended 2 hours, 44 minutes, 20 seconds
Nov 14 00:46:49 to Nov 14 07:27:29 suspended 6 hours, 40 minutes, 40 seconds
Nov 14 13:20:49 to Nov 14 18:56:52 suspended 5 hours, 36 minutes, 3 seconds
Nov 15 00:16:33 to Nov 15 07:33:53 suspended 7 hours, 17 minutes, 20 seconds
Nov 15 13:06:38 to Nov 15 18:07:34 suspended 5 hours, 56 seconds
Nov 15 21:46:09 to Nov 16 04:20:41 suspended 6 hours, 34 minutes, 32 seconds
Nov 16 05:55:28 to Nov 16 18:13:27 suspended 12 hours, 17 minutes, 59 seconds
Nov 16 21:36:22 to Nov 17 04:07:29 suspended 6 hours, 31 minutes, 7 seconds

Linux uptime 582,903 seconds ( 6 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes, 3 seconds)
15 Suspends 388,500 seconds ( 4 days, 11 hours, 55 minutes)
Real uptime 194,403 seconds ( 2 days, 6 hours, 3 seconds)

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The second solution is close to your needs but has no logging. When you are watching movies this script dims the other two monitors and records inactivity time in X11: