Version: 2.1
Status: Ready for Development
Last Updated: January 2025
Rune is a developer-first CLI productivity platform that automates daily work rituals, enforces healthy work-life boundaries, and integrates seamlessly with existing developer workflows. By combining time tracking, workflow automation, and focus protection in a single tool, we address the fragmented landscape of developer productivity tools while promoting sustainable work practices.
To become the essential productivity companion for developers, transforming how they start, manage, and end their workday through intelligent automation and mindful boundary setting.
Empower developers to build sustainable work habits by providing a unified, extensible platform that automates repetitive tasks, protects focus time, and creates clear work-life boundaries.
Rune - A mystical approach to ritual automation, where developers “cast” their daily work spells.
Developers currently juggle multiple disconnected tools for time tracking, task automation, and focus management. The blurred boundaries between work and personal time lead to burnout, while repetitive setup tasks reduce productive hours. There is no unified solution that addresses these interconnected challenges.
Primary: Individual developers and technical professionals who:
- Use CLI tools as part of their daily workflow
- Work remotely or in hybrid environments
- Value automation and efficiency
- Struggle with work-life balance
Secondary: Development teams seeking:
- Standardized onboarding processes
- Shared workflow configurations
- Team productivity insights
- 67% of developers prioritize work-life balance
- 70% struggle with time management
- 42% work remotely full-time
- 88% of DevOps tools use YAML configuration
| Tool | Category | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watson | Time Tracking | Simple CLI, project tracking | No automation, no DND |
| Timewarrior | Time Tracking | Powerful reporting | Complex setup, no rituals |
| dijo | Habit Tracking | Great UX, scriptable | No time tracking |
| TaskWarrior | Task Management | Feature-rich | Steep learning curve |
Key Differentiator: No existing tool combines time tracking + ritual automation + work-life balance features in a developer-native CLI interface.
- YAML-based configuration at
~/.rune/config.yaml - Schema validation with helpful error messages
- Migration tools from Watson/Timewarrior
- Example configurations for common workflows
rune init # Initialize configuration
rune start # Start workday and run start ritual
rune pause # Pause timer
rune resume # Resume timer
rune status # Show current session status
rune stop # End workday and run stop ritual
rune report # Generate time reports- Start rituals: Git pulls, Docker startup, IDE launch
- Stop rituals: Git commits, service shutdown, backup scripts
- Custom commands with progress indicators
- Conditional execution based on day/project
- Automatic timer start/stop with rituals
- Pause/resume functionality
- Git integration for automatic project detection
- Idle detection with configurable thresholds
- OS-level DND automation (macOS, Windows, Linux)
- Slack/Discord status integration
- Calendar blocking via Google Calendar API
- Break reminders with Pomodoro support
# ~/.rune/config.yaml
version: 1
settings:
work_hours: 8.0
break_interval: 50m
idle_threshold: 10m
projects:
- name: "main-app"
detect: ["git:main-app", "dir:~/projects/main-app"]
rituals:
start:
global:
- name: "Update repositories"
command: "git -C ~/projects pull --all"
- name: "Start Docker"
command: "docker-compose up -d"
per_project:
main-app:
- name: "Start dev server"
command: "npm run dev"
stop:
global:
- name: "Commit changes"
command: "git add -A && git commit -m 'WIP: End of day'"
optional: true
- name: "Stop services"
command: "docker-compose down"
integrations:
git:
enabled: true
auto_detect_project: true
slack:
workspace: "myteam"
dnd_on_start: true
calendar:
provider: "google"
block_calendar: true- Startup time: < 200ms
- Command execution: < 50ms overhead
- Memory usage: < 50MB resident
- CPU usage: < 1% when idle
- Command sandboxing with restricted permissions
- Input validation and injection prevention
- Secure credential storage using OS keychains
- Audit logging for all executed commands
- No telemetry by default (opt-in only)
- Primary: macOS, Linux (Ubuntu/Debian/Arch)
- Secondary: Windows 10/11, WSL2
- Shell support: Bash, Zsh, Fish, PowerShell
- Package managers: Homebrew, apt, yum, Chocolatey
- Intuitive commands following Unix conventions
- Helpful error messages with suggested fixes
- Color-coded output with fallback for non-TTY
- Progress indicators for long-running tasks
- Shell completions for all supported shells
$ rune init --guided
Welcome to Rune! Let's cast your daily rituals.
? What time do you usually start work? 9:00 AM
? How many hours do you typically work? 8
? Which tools do you use? [Docker, Git, VS Code]
? Enable focus mode (DND) during work? Yes
✓ Configuration created at ~/.rune/config.yaml
✓ Shell completions installed
Try 'rune start' to begin your workday!- Language: Go 1.21+
- CLI Framework: Cobra
- Configuration: Viper
- State Management: BoltDB for local storage
- Testing: Go testing + Testify
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions
cmd/
└── rune/
└── main.go # Entry point
internal/
├── commands/ # Command implementations (Cobra)
├── config/ # Configuration management (Viper)
├── rituals/ # Ritual execution engine
├── tracking/ # Time tracking logic (BoltDB)
├── dnd/ # Do Not Disturb manager
├── notifications/ # OS-level notification support
├── tmux/ # tmux session management
├── colors/ # Terminal color system
├── logger/ # Structured logging
├── telemetry/ # Sentry telemetry integration
├── otellogger/ # OpenTelemetry logger
└── copilot/ # AI copilot integration
- Go plugin system for compiled extensions
- Script runners for interpreted languages
- Webhook support for external integrations
- Published SDK with examples
- Basic time tracking with start/stop/pause
- YAML configuration with validation
- Simple ritual execution
- Cross-platform DND automation
- Basic reporting (daily/weekly)
- Shell completions
- Git hooks for automatic project detection
- IDE plugins (VS Code, JetBrains)
- Slack/Discord status integration
- Calendar blocking
- Smart break reminders
- Advanced reporting with visualizations
- Team features with shared configurations
- Plugin marketplace
- Web dashboard for analytics
- Mobile companion app
- AI-powered ritual suggestions
- Export to time tracking services
- SSO and enterprise authentication
- Compliance reporting (SOC2, GDPR)
- Advanced analytics and insights
- Custom integrations API
- White-label options
- MAU Target: 10,000 developers by month 6
- DAU/MAU Ratio: > 60% (high engagement)
- Retention: 40% after 30 days
- NPS Score: > 50
- Average rituals/day: 2+ (start/stop)
- Time saved/user/day: 15+ minutes
- Plugin installations: 3+ per active user
- Configuration complexity: 5+ custom commands
- Conversion rate: 5% free to paid
- MRR growth: 20% month-over-month
- Support tickets: < 5% of MAU
- Community contributions: 50+ PRs/month
- Free Tier: Core features, unlimited personal use
- Pro ($5/month): Advanced integrations, team features
- Team ($10/user/month): Shared configs, analytics
- Enterprise: Custom pricing, SSO, support
- Direct: GitHub releases, project website
- Package Managers: Homebrew, apt, Chocolatey
- Developer Platforms: VS Code Marketplace, JetBrains
- Community: Reddit, Hacker News, dev.to
- Soft Launch: Beta with 100 developers
- Community Launch: Open source release
- Product Hunt: Coordinated launch
- Hacker News: “Show HN” post
- Content Marketing: Technical blog posts
- Risk: Security vulnerabilities in command execution
- Mitigation: Sandboxing, security audits, bug bounty program
- Risk: Low adoption due to behavior change required
- Mitigation: Excellent onboarding, clear value proposition
- Risk: Existing tools add ritual features
- Mitigation: Rapid innovation, strong community
US-1: Initialize Configuration
As a new user
I want to run 'rune init --guided'
So that I can quickly set up my work rituals with helpful prompts
US-2: Start Workday with Automation
As a developer
I want to run 'rune start'
So that all my development tools start automatically and my time tracking begins
US-3: Manage Work Sessions
As a user taking breaks
I want to pause and resume my work timer
So that my tracked time accurately reflects actual work hours
US-4: End Workday Cleanly
As a developer finishing work
I want to run 'rune stop'
So that my work is saved, services are stopped, and I have a clear end to my day
US-5: Track Project Time
As a developer working on multiple projects
I want automatic project detection based on my current directory/git repo
So that time is allocated to the correct project without manual switching
- Time tracking with Git integration
- Ritual automation with progress display
- Cross-platform DND automation
- YAML configuration
- Basic reporting
- Shell completions
- IDE integrations
- Slack/Discord status
- Plugin system foundation
- Advanced reporting
- Team features
- AI suggestions
- Mobile app
- Web dashboard
- Enterprise features
Primary Logo: A glowing runic symbol that represents transformation and daily cycles
- Modern geometric interpretation of traditional Norse runes
- Subtle glow effect for digital presence
- Works in monochrome for documentation and terminal
╔═╗
╠╦╝ une
╩╚═
Displayed on:
rune init- Welcome screenrune --version- Version info- Error states with animated “flickering” effect
- Primary: Deep purple (#6B46C1) - Mystical and professional
- Secondary: Norse blue (#2E3440) - Depth and stability
- Accent: Mystic gold (#FFB700) - Success states and highlights
- Glow: Rune cyan (#88C0D0) - Active states and emphasis
- Terminal: Classic green (#00FF00) - CLI output compatibility
Tone: Mystical yet professional, playful but not frivolous
Key Phrases:
- “Cast your daily runes” - Starting work
- “The runes have spoken” - Configuration validation
- “Ritual complete” - Successful command execution
- “Ancient wisdom for modern workflows” - Tagline
Documentation Sections:
- “Casting Your First Rune” - Quickstart guide
- “The Runebook” - Complete command reference
- “Runic Configurations” - Advanced YAML setup
- “Scribing New Rituals” - Custom automation guide
Error Messages:
⚠ The runes are misaligned: configuration error at line 23
✗ This ritual requires preparation: missing dependency 'docker'
✓ The binding is complete: ritual saved successfully
- Rune Badges: Contributor levels (Apprentice, Scribe, Runemaster)
- Stickers/Swag: Glowing rune designs for laptops
- Conference Banner: “Automate Your Rituals, Master Your Day”
Rune will be considered successful when:
- 10,000+ active developers use it daily
- 90%+ positive sentiment in user feedback
- Measurable impact on work-life balance metrics
- Sustainable revenue from premium features
- Thriving community with regular contributions
- Frontend Developer Daily Routine
- Morning: Auto-pulls repos, starts webpack dev server, opens browser to localhost
- Evening: Commits WIP changes, stops all Node processes, sets Slack to away
- DevOps Engineer Workflow
- Morning: Updates Kubernetes configs, starts monitoring dashboards, checks CI/CD status
- Evening: Ensures all deployments are stable, updates tickets, generates daily report
- Remote Team Member
- Morning: Updates team on daily goals, blocks calendar for focus time, sets DND everywhere
- Evening: Posts EOD summary, schedules next day’s meetings, ensures handoff to other timezones
- All user commands run with user privileges only
- No shell expansion without explicit user consent
- Credentials stored in OS keychain (never in config files)
- Command audit log for security reviews
- Optional sandboxing via Docker/Firejail
- Open source from day one (MIT License)
- Clear contribution guidelines
- Code of conduct enforcement
- Regular community calls
- Transparent roadmap and decision making