Client: Self-initiated proof-of-concept Timeline: Rapid prototype to production deployment Role: Sole designer and full-stack developer Technologies: React, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui, Vite, localStorage persistence Live Demo: focus.rawveg.co.uk

The Pomodoro Technique is proven productivity methodology, yet most timer applications fall into one of two traps. They are either too simplistic (a countdown and nothing more) or too bloated (subscription services with features nobody asked for). Users want something in between: a genuinely useful tool that enhances the technique without getting in the way.

I wanted to demonstrate that productivity applications could be built with depth, polish, and genuine utility whilst remaining focused on the core experience. No accounts required. No subscriptions. No feature creep. Just a beautifully crafted tool that helps people work better.

Focus is a feature-rich Pomodoro timer that combines elegant design with thoughtful functionality. It respects users' time by working offline, persisting state across browser sessions, and providing genuine value through task management, scheduling, analytics, and achievement systems.

The interface presents the timer prominently. That is the core experience, and it never gets buried. But for users who want more, the depth is there: task linking, calendar scheduling, comprehensive statistics, exportable data. Complexity is available but never imposed.

Sixteen achievements across four rarity tiers (Common, Rare, Epic, Legendary) transform productivity tracking into something genuinely engaging. Streak monitoring, daily goals, and progress visualisation create the feedback loops that sustain long-term habit formation.

Everything stores locally in the browser. Complete backup and restore functionality enables cross-device synchronisation without requiring accounts or cloud infrastructure. Users own their data entirely.

React 18 with TypeScript provides the application foundation. The component architecture prioritises small, focused, reusable elements that compose into larger features. Tailwind CSS paired with shadcn/ui delivers consistent, polished styling with minimal custom CSS overhead.

Vite handles the development and build pipeline, enabling rapid iteration during development and optimised production bundles for deployment.

The timer presents an interesting technical challenge: it must continue tracking time even when the browser tab closes or the device sleeps. The solution stores session start timestamps rather than elapsed time, calculating the current state on each render. This approach handles browser closure, tab switching, and device sleep gracefully.

All application state persists to localStorage with automatic serialisation and deserialisation. The backup system exports complete application state as JSON, enabling restoration on any device.

The gamification layer tracks numerous metrics: total sessions completed, consecutive days active, tasks finished, focus hours accumulated. Achievement definitions specify unlock conditions, and the system evaluates progress continuously, triggering celebration notifications when milestones are reached.

The rarity system (Common through Legendary) provides progression pacing. Early achievements unlock quickly, sustaining initial engagement. Legendary achievements require sustained commitment, providing long-term goals for dedicated users.

Customisable session durations for work periods, short breaks, and long breaks. Auto-start options for seamless transitions between phases. Audio notifications for session completion. Visual progress through an animated circular indicator. The fundamentals, executed with care.

Tasks connect directly to Pomodoro sessions. Users estimate effort in Pomodoro counts, then track actual sessions against estimates. Progress bars show completion at a glance. Completed tasks trigger celebration feedback. The task system transforms isolated timer sessions into coherent project progress.

The monthly calendar view enables advance planning. Users schedule specific session types (work, short break, long break) at designated times, optionally linked to tasks. Scheduled sessions launch with a single click. The "Today's Focus" view surfaces the current day's plan prominently.

Comprehensive tracking covers sessions completed, total focus time, productivity trends, and streak analysis. Weekly and monthly breakdowns reveal patterns. Visual charts make the data immediately comprehensible. CSV export enables external analysis for users who want deeper insights.

Sixteen achievements span productivity milestones: first session completed, seven-day streaks, hundred-hour focus totals, and more. Daily, weekly, and monthly goal setting provides shorter-term targets. The combination creates layered motivation sustaining engagement across different time horizons.

The application successfully demonstrates that productivity tools can be simultaneously simple and deep. The core timer experience remains clean and immediate. The extended features (tasks, calendar, analytics, achievements) add genuine value without cluttering the primary interface.

The smart persistence proves that browser-based applications can handle real-world usage patterns. Closing the tab, switching devices, or losing connectivity does not disrupt the user's workflow. This reliability distinguishes polished products from fragile prototypes.

The gamification system demonstrates understanding of behavioural design. Achievement rarity pacing, streak mechanics, and progress visualisation create engagement loops that encourage sustained use rather than one-time visits.

Challenge: Browser timers are notoriously unreliable. Tabs throttle when backgrounded, devices sleep, users close browsers mid-session.

Solution: The timer stores absolute timestamps rather than counting elapsed seconds. On each render, current time minus start time yields accurate elapsed duration regardless of what happened while the tab was inactive. This approach handles every interruption scenario gracefully.

Challenge: Gamification can feel manipulative or hollow if implemented cynically.

Solution: Every achievement represents genuine productivity accomplishment. The system celebrates real work completed, not artificial engagement metrics. Rarity tiers pace progression naturally rather than creating artificial scarcity. The result feels rewarding rather than exploitative.

Challenge: Feature-rich applications risk overwhelming users who want simplicity.

Solution: The timer dominates the interface. Extended features live in clearly labelled tabs that users discover when ready. The application scales from "just a timer" to "complete productivity system" based entirely on user interest, never forcing complexity on those who do not want it.

Consumer Product Sensibility: This application is designed for regular people, not developers. The interface prioritises clarity and delight. The onboarding is immediate: open the page, click play, start focusing. Depth reveals itself gradually to interested users.

Behavioural Design Understanding: The achievement system, streak tracking, and goal setting demonstrate familiarity with the mechanics that drive sustained engagement. These patterns transfer directly to any application requiring user retention.

Offline-First Architecture: Everything works without network connectivity. Data lives locally. The application functions identically whether online or offline. This approach suits use cases where reliability matters more than real-time synchronisation.

Polish and Attention to Detail: Dark and light themes with system preference detection. Responsive design across all breakpoints. Smooth animations and micro-interactions. Keyboard navigation and screen reader support. These details distinguish professional work from hobbyist projects.

If you're looking to:

Build consumer-facing productivity or utility applications

Create internal tools with gamification to drive employee adoption

Develop MVPs that demonstrate engagement potential to investors

Design applications requiring offline functionality and local data ownership

Focus demonstrates the approach: depth without complexity, engagement without manipulation, polish without pretension. Let's discuss what we could build to serve your users.

Live Demo: focus.rawveg.co.uk

GitHub Repository: github.com/rawveg/focus