Fix: Target Time Display On Plot For Past Days

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving into a fix related to the TimeTracker app, specifically addressing how target times are displayed on the plot. It’s about making sure you see those ticked lines for your target times, even when you haven't logged any working time for a particular day in the past. Let's get into the details!

Understanding the Issue

So, here's the deal: In the TimeTracker app, the plot is supposed to show a ticked line representing your target time for each day, right? But, some of you guys noticed that if you didn't log any working time on a specific day in the past (or even today), the ticked line for the target time would just disappear. This was especially annoying because you want to see if you met your target, regardless of whether you actually tracked time that day. Imagine setting a target for learning something new on a Saturday, but because you didn't use the time tracker, it looks like you didn't have a target! That's not cool.

The problem was that the system wasn't designed to explicitly show the target time if there was no corresponding working time data for that day. It was like the app was saying, "No work logged? No target line for you!" Obviously, this wasn't the intended behavior, and it made it harder to get a clear overview of your progress and whether you were consistently hitting your goals. We needed to make sure that target times were always visible, acting as a constant reminder and benchmark, even on those days where life just got in the way and you didn't track your time.

To put it simply: The expectation is that if a day is designated as a working day and has a target time associated with it, that target time should always be displayed on the plot. Whether you diligently tracked every minute of your work or took a complete day off, that target line should be there, serving as a visual reference point. This is super important for maintaining an accurate and motivational view of your time management efforts.

The Solution: Always Show the Target Ticked Line

Okay, so how did we tackle this? The core of the solution was ensuring the app always displays the target ticked line for each day, up to and including the current day, if that day is designated as a working day. This means a couple of things:

1. Check for Working Day Status: The app now explicitly checks whether a given day is considered a working day according to your settings. This is the first gate. If it's not a working day, then the target line logic doesn't even kick in. But if it is a working day...
2. Display Target Line Regardless of Logged Time: This is the big change. Even if there's absolutely no working time logged for that day, the app will still display the target ticked line. The presence or absence of logged time no longer affects whether the target line is shown. It's all about whether the day should have a target associated with it.

Under the hood, this involved tweaking the plot generation logic. Previously, the code was contingent on the existence of working time entries. We had to decouple the target line display from that dependency. This meant modifying the data processing pipeline to ensure that target times are fetched and displayed independently of any working time data. We essentially added a step that says, "Hey, before you draw the plot, make sure we have target lines for all working days, regardless of whether the user actually worked or not."

The result? A more consistent and informative plot. Now, you can glance at your TimeTracker and immediately see your target times for every working day, past and present, giving you a much clearer picture of your overall progress and adherence to your goals. No more missing ticked lines on those days where you forgot to start the timer – the target is always there, reminding you of what you aimed to achieve.

Benefits of the Fix

So, why is this fix so important? What are the real-world benefits of always seeing that target ticked line?

• Improved Visual Consistency: This is a big one. A consistent visual representation makes the plot much easier to read and interpret. No more guessing why a target line is missing – if it's a working day, the line is there, period.
• Better Goal Tracking: Seeing your target times, even on days where you didn't log any work, helps you stay focused on your goals. It provides a constant reminder of what you're aiming for, even when life gets hectic and you forget to track your time.
• Enhanced Motivation: Visual cues can be incredibly powerful motivators. Seeing that target line can spur you on to get back on track, especially if you've had a few unproductive days. It's a visual representation of your commitment to your goals.
• More Accurate Progress Assessment: By consistently displaying target times, the plot provides a more accurate overview of your progress. You can easily see whether you're consistently hitting your targets, even on days where you didn't track your time.

Imagine you're trying to build a habit of dedicating at least two hours each day to learning a new skill. With this fix, even if you forget to start the timer one day, you'll still see that two-hour target line on the plot. This serves as a visual reminder and can motivate you to make up for lost time the next day. Without the fix, that missing target line might make it seem like you didn't have a goal for that day, potentially derailing your progress.

Real-World Use Cases

Let's look at some specific scenarios where this fix really shines:

• Freelancers Tracking Billable Hours: Imagine a freelancer who aims to bill at least six hours each day. With the fix, even on days where they get caught up in administrative tasks and forget to log their time, the six-hour target line will still be visible, reminding them to prioritize billable work.
• Students Managing Study Time: Students often set daily study goals. This fix ensures that those goals are always visible on the plot, even on days where they get distracted by social events or other commitments. It helps them stay accountable and manage their time effectively.
• Employees Working on Personal Development: Many employees dedicate time each day to personal development or training. The target time display ensures that they consistently allocate time to these activities, even when their workload is heavy.
• Anyone Building New Habits: Whether it's exercising, meditating, or learning a new language, setting daily targets is crucial for building new habits. This fix provides a visual reminder of those targets, helping users stay on track and achieve their goals.

Conclusion

In short, this fix is all about providing a more consistent, informative, and motivational experience for TimeTracker users. By always displaying target times on the plot, we're empowering you to better track your progress, stay focused on your goals, and ultimately, make the most of your time. So go ahead, set those targets, track your time (or don't!), and let the TimeTracker help you achieve your full potential!

Thanks for being such an engaged and helpful community! Keep the feedback coming – it's what helps us make TimeTracker even better.