z8 Timer Desktop App
Native desktop application for quick time tracking on Windows, macOS, and Linux
The z8 Timer is a lightweight desktop companion app that lives in your system tray for quick and effortless time tracking. Built with Tauri for native performance across all major platforms.
Why Use the Desktop App?
| Feature | Web App | Desktop App |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Clock In/Out | Open browser, navigate | One click from tray |
| Always Available | Need browser open | System tray access |
| Organization Switching | Full dropdown | Quick switcher |
| Idle Detection | Not available | Automatic break tracking |
| Offline Support | Requires internet | Works offline, syncs later |
| Dark/Light Mode | Theme selector | Follows system or manual |
| Auto-Start | Manual | Starts with your computer |
Key Features
One-Click Time Tracking
Clock in and out instantly from your system tray without opening a browser
Organization Switcher
Seamlessly switch between multiple organizations without signing out
Idle Detection
Automatically detect when you've been away and record breaks accurately
Offline Mode
Keep tracking time even without internet - entries sync when you're back online
Dark & Light Mode
Choose your preferred theme or follow your system settings
System Tray Integration
Minimal footprint with always-available access from your taskbar
Platform Support
| Platform | Installer | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | .msi, .exe | Windows 10+, WebView2 |
| macOS | .dmg | macOS 10.15+ (Catalina) |
| Linux | .deb, .AppImage | WebKitGTK 4.1+ |
Quick Start
- Download & Install - Get the app for your platform
- Sign In - Connect to your Z8 account
- Start Tracking - Clock in with one click
How It Works
The z8 Timer desktop app connects to your organization's Z8 web application:
┌─────────────────┐ OAuth ┌─────────────────┐
│ Desktop App │ ◄───────────► │ z8 Webapp │
│ (System Tray) │ API │ (Server) │
└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
│ │
│ Offline Queue │ Database
▼ ▼
┌─────────┐ ┌─────────────┐
│ SQLite │ │ PostgreSQL │
└─────────┘ └─────────────┘- Authentication: Secure OAuth flow via your browser
- Time Tracking: API calls to your Z8 server
- Offline Support: Local SQLite queue for resilience
- Sync: Automatic background sync when online