Workrave helps users manage the time they spend working at a computer by monitoring keyboard and mouse activity and recommending regular breaks. It is particularly useful for people concerned about repetitive strain injury and the discomfort associated with prolonged computer use.
Rather than relying solely on fixed reminders, Workrave distinguishes active computer use from periods of inactivity. It combines short pauses, longer rest periods and daily usage limits, with extensive settings for adjusting how strictly breaks are encouraged or enforced.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Provides three types of reminders: frequent microbreaks, longer rest breaks and a daily computer usage limit.
- Allows independent configuration of break frequency, duration and postponement intervals.
- Monitors keyboard and mouse activity to distinguish working time from idle periods.
- Displays a gentle advance reminder before a scheduled break begins.
- Can enforce overdue breaks or issue another reminder, according to user preferences.
- Offers configurable Skip and Postpone controls for individual breaks.
- Displays countdown timers showing the remaining time until upcoming breaks.
- Includes exercises that can be displayed during longer rest periods.
- Collects statistics about breaks taken, skipped, postponed and ignored.
- Provides daily, weekly and monthly computer usage information.
- Supports normal, quiet and suspended operating modes for controlling monitoring and notifications.
- Allows users to configure whether break windows block keyboard and mouse input.
- Can recognise screen locking as part of a rest period.
- Offers sound preferences, including selection of the audio output used for break reminders.
- Supports desktop integration through notification-area controls and timer applets where available.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: workrave.org
Support:
Developer: Rob Caelers, Raymond Penners, Ray Satiro and contributors
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
Workrave is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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