docs/wiki/4.14-How-Time-Is-Logged.md
Time tracking in Super Productivity is built around a single active task: when you start the timer on a task, that task becomes the one the app is currently tracking. Time is recorded in small increments, stored on the task (and in context and archive for sync and history), and continues until you pause or switch to another task. Understanding how starting and switching work, how time is recorded and stored, how idle and completion are handled, and how estimated vs. actual time is used helps you use time tracking effectively.
For how time estimates and the comparison with actual time support planning and review, see [[4.08-Time-Estimates]].
Starting a task means making it the globally active task for time tracking. The app tracks one active task at a time. When you start the timer on a task, that task becomes the active task; any task that was previously being tracked is no longer active—time stops accruing on it and starts accruing on the new task. You do not have to pause the old task first; starting another task switches the active task automatically. So “start” both begins tracking the new task and effectively pauses the previous one.
The active task is shown in the UI (for example in the header or time-tracking panel). You can pause the active task explicitly (stopping the timer with no task selected) or start a different task; in both cases the previous task stops accruing time.
Time is recorded in a tick-based way: the app emits regular “ticks” (small time intervals) and attributes each tick to the currently active task. When a tick is processed:
Updates are applied to local state immediately so the UI (for example the timer and task time display) reflects the new time right away. For sync (for example WebDAV or Dropbox), the app batches time-tracking updates (for example every few minutes) to reduce the number of sync operations while still keeping data consistent.
Time is stored at several levels so the app can show accurate totals, support sync, and preserve history:
So “where is my time?” is: on the task (total and per day), in the current context’s state, and in the archive once the task is archived.
When the app detects that you have been idle (no input for a period), it can:
Idle detection and the reassign dialog are configurable in [[3.02-Settings-and-Preferences]]. The important point is: the app does not silently attribute idle time to the active task; it pauses and gives you a chance to correct the log. For a full overview of idle detection and the reassign dialog, see [[4.17-Idle-Time]]. For reminders to take breaks after sustained work time, see [[4.16-Break-Reminders]].
When you mark a task complete:
Completion does not stop time tracking. If the timer was running on that task when you marked it done, it keeps running. The app does not assume “done” means “stop the timer.” To stop tracking, you must pause the timer or start another task. That separation lets you finish a task in the list but keep logging a bit more (e.g. wrap-up) or intentionally track time on a completed task if your workflow requires it.
Completed tasks (and their time) remain in the app and are included in reports and history. When they are old enough, they move into the archive; the time data stays associated with the task so you can analyze past work.
The app continuously compares time spent with time estimate to show progress and support planning. The ratio (time spent ÷ estimate) gives a progress value (e.g. 1.0 = 100% of the estimate). This comparison is:
Because time spent is updated in real time as the timer runs, the progress value and any UI or metrics that depend on it recalculate automatically; you don’t have to refresh. For more on how estimates work and how they interact with logged time, see [[4.08-Time-Estimates]].