TechSource: 5 Pomodoro Apps For Linux Users

Posted: 22 Aug 2013 12:35 AM PDT

In our earlier article, we talked about how procrastination can be useful for enhancing your productivity. The technique, though effective, is not enough if you need to do high-value tasks like working on reports and even writing a novel. Doing tasks like those requires you to go into a 'flow state'. According to Wikipedia, "Flow is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. " This concept, proposed by Mihály Csíkszentmihályi, has gained a lot of attention recently.

Personally, I've tried many methods on achieving that flow state; however, the one that I thought that works the best is setting a timer and working with full focus for a set period of time. A technique that aligns with this ideal is the Pomodoro Technique. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that insists on working in 25-minute focused intervals while taking 5-minute breaks in between. This not only ensures optimum productivity, but also ensures that you get enough rest in between tasks, thus avoid a burnout.

Implementing this technique is really simple. All you need is a timer that is set to 25 minutes and then lets you have 5-minute breaks in between. Though you can always buy a Pomodoro Timer from the site, there's nothing better than having an application designed specifically for the purpose. On Linux too, you'll find such apps, though there aren't many of them. Here are 5 Pomodoro apps we found that let you be highly productive without losing your mind:

Pomidor

Pomidor is a paid application written in Python and GTK3 that is designed for Ubuntu and Elementary OS. The app sticks to the basics of the Pomodoro Technique by letting you work for 25 minutes straight and then giving you a 5-minute break. The application then rings a bell whenever your 25-minute work sprint is complete. Moreover, you also get a NotifyOSD notification once your break has started or finished. Though the app is simple and without any bells and whistles, it perfectly does what it says.

Zeegaree Lite

Zeegaree Lite is a pretty-looking timer application for Ubuntu. Though not a dedicated Pomodoro application, Zeegaree does serve as a great timer as well as a stopwatch. The app lets you set timers and save them as favorites. You can then set a 25-minute timer and set it as your favorite so that you can work with the Pomodoro Technique. The app is beautifully designed and looks great on normal and touch-screen computers as well. In the Lite version, which is free, you don't get to save the timers. Those features are available in the paid version of the app, which too can be downloaded from the Ubuntu Software Center.

Gnome Clocks

GNOME Clocks is GNOME's dedicated clock application. It features a simple timer that lets you work using the Pomodoro method. All you have to do is set the Pomodoro Timer to 25 minutes and then take 5-minute breaks once the task is over. GNOME clocks also shows notifications (using Notify OSD) once the timer is over.

Pomodoro

Pomodoro is a simple GNOME Shell extension that lets you use the Pomodoro technique on your GNOME desktop. The app shows as a countdown timer in the GNOME Shell top panel. Once you start the timer, the application hides any new notifications, thus letting you focus fully on the task. Furthermore, it also sets your Empathy (see: Free and Open Source Skype Replacements for Linux) status to busy so that none of your buddies will disturb you during this time. Once the task is over, you'll get a notification on your desktop reminding you to take a break.

Tomato.es

Though not a dedicated Linux application, this is the best Pomodoro Timer you can get if you're using a web browser for work. Tomatoes is a simple timer that not only lets you work according to the Pomodoro Technique but also lets you compare your number of Pomodoros (number of 25-minute sprints) with other users. Furthermore, the web app can also notify you of breaks using desktop notifications if you allow it to do so.