Scolect Documentation
Everything you need to know about using Scolect to master your screen time and boost productivity.
1. Getting Started
1.1 Installation
Download Scolect from our official download page. See our Download Page for detailed installation instructions and system requirements for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
1.2 First Launch
When you first open Scolect, you'll see the Overview dashboard. Don't worry if it's mostly empty—Scolect needs a few hours of usage to generate meaningful insights.
- Grant Permissions: Scolect may request permissions to monitor foreground applications. This is necessary for tracking to work.
- Review Settings: Visit Settings to configure your preferences (theme, notifications, startup behavior).
- Explore the Interface: Click through each navigation item to familiarize yourself with the layout.
1.3 Understanding the Interface
Navigation Bar (Left Side)
- Overview: Your daily dashboard
- Applications: Manage app tracking and categories
- Alerts & Limits: Set time limits and configure notifications
- Reports: Detailed analytics and insights
- Focus Mode: Pomodoro timer and focus session tracking
- Settings: Customize Scolect
- Help: Access documentation and support
Status Bar (Top)
- Current date and time
- Theme toggle (sun/moon icon)
- Real-time screen time counter (visible when tracking)
1.4 Letting Scolect Track
Scolect works automatically. Once installed, it tracks which application is in the foreground (active) at all times. You don't need to start or stop tracking manually—it's always running in the background.
Scolect only tracks which application is active and for how long. It does NOT record:
- Keystrokes
- Screenshots
- Specific files or documents
- Web URLs (only that you're using a browser)
- Window titles or content within applications
2. Core Features
2.1 Screen Time Tracking
Scolect uses system APIs to detect the foreground window at regular intervals (every few seconds). It logs the application name and timestamp, building a complete record of your computer usage.
Viewing Your Data
- Overview Page: High-level summary (total time, productive time, most used app)
- Reports Page: Detailed analytics with graphs and charts
- Applications Page: Per-app usage statistics
Time Periods
Analyze your screen time over different periods: Today, Last 7 Days, Last Month, Last 3 Months, Lifetime, or Custom date ranges.
2.2 Productivity Tracking
Marking Apps as Productive: Navigate to Applications → Click any app → Toggle 'Is Productive'.
Your Productive Score
(Productive Time ÷ Total Screen Time) × 100
Example: Spent 8 hours on computer. 6 hours in productive apps (VS Code, Figma), 2 hours in non-productive (YouTube). Score: 75%.
2.3 Categories
Scolect provides 10 pre-built categories like Productivity, Development, Social Media, and Entertainment.
Custom Categories
- Go to Applications
- Click any app
- Select 'Custom' from the Category dropdown
- Type your category name and Save
2.4 Focus Mode
Starting a Session
- Navigate to Focus Mode
- Choose a preset mode (Deep Work, Quick Tasks, Reading) or use Custom
- Click the Play button
- Work until the timer alerts you
- Take your break, then repeat!
Customizing Durations
Click the Settings icon in Focus Mode to adjust:
- Work duration (1-90 minutes)
- Short break length (1-20 minutes)
- Long break length (5-60 minutes)
- Number of sessions before long break (2-8)
2.5 Alerts & Limits
Setting Overall Limit
- Go to Alerts & Limits
- Under 'Overall Screen Time Limit', enter hours and minutes
- Enable the limit and Save
You'll receive notifications at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your limit.
Setting App Limits
Click 'Add Limit', select an app, enter duration, and save. Use the toggle switch to temporarily disable a limit without deleting it.
2.6 Application Management
Hiding Apps: Go to Applications → Find app → Toggle 'Visible in Reports' off. The app is tracked but won't clutter charts.
Disabling Tracking: Toggle 'Track Usage' off. Scolect will no longer record time spent in this application.
3. Advanced Usage
3.1 Custom Date Range Analysis
Want to analyze a specific time period? Use Custom date range:
- Go to Reports
- Select 'Custom' from the time period dropdown
- Choose 'Date Range' or 'Specific Date'
- Select your dates and Click Apply
Use this to compare usage across months or analyze specific project periods.
3.2 Interpreting Insights
Scolect generates automatic insights in the Application Details modal.
"You primarily use [App] during [Time Period]"
Tells you when you naturally reach for this app. Use this to schedule tasks appropriately.
"Usage trending upward/downward"
Watch these trends over weeks to see if changes you make (like setting limits) are having the desired effect.
3.3 Exporting and Analyzing Data
Go to Settings → Backup & Restore and Click Export. Find the backup in your Documents folder under Scolect-Backups/.
The JSON backup format is easy to parse. Advanced users can use Python or Excel to build predictive models or correlate screen time with external data.
4. Tips & Best Practices
Accurate Scores
Be Honest: Don't mark everything as productive. If your score is always 95%, it's meaningless.
Context Matters: YouTube can be educational or a time sink. Classify based on your actual habits.
Effective Focus
Start Small: Begin with 25-minute sessions. Build the habit before attempting 60-minute blocks.
Honor Breaks: Skipping breaks defeats the purpose. Breaks allow your brain to consolidate learning.
Realistic Limits
Start High: Set limits higher than current usage, then lower incrementally.
Weekend Flexibility: Don't feel bad if you exceed limits on weekends—just track and observe the pattern.
Avoid Burnout
High Score ≠ Better: 85% with healthy breaks is better than 98% with no downtime.
Digital Detox: One evening per week, aim for zero screen time. Use Scolect to verify.
5. Troubleshooting
"Data not showing / Database not opening" Error
Causes: Database corruption, permission issues, or file lock conflicts.
Solutions:
- Try Settings → Data → Clear Data
- Manual File Deletion: Go to your Documents folder, locate the Scolect data folder, and delete the database files and
.lockfile. - Restart Scolect.
"App opens on every startup"
Workaround: Enable "Launch as Minimized" in Settings → General. This makes Scolect launch to the system tray instead of opening a window.
Tracking Isn't Working
- Check Permissions: Ensure your operating system hasn't revoked monitoring permissions. On macOS, check System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy → Accessibility.
- Restart App: Sometimes resolves hook issues.
- Check Settings: Ensure specific app has "Track Usage" enabled.
Notifications Not Appearing
- Check Master Toggle in Settings.
- Check your System Notification Settings (Windows Settings, macOS System Preferences, or Linux notification daemon).
- Focus Mode Conflict: If Focus Mode is active, screen time alerts are suppressed by design.
Installation Failing
- Ensure your operating system is up to date.
- Check that you have sufficient disk space.
- Disable VPN temporarily during installation.
- On macOS, you may need to allow the app in System Preferences → Security & Privacy.