Show HN: Local Hours – Local-first time tracking app (macOS, iOS, open source)

1 point

3 months ago

I built Local Hours because I needed a simple time tracker that doesn't require online accounts, send data to someone else's cloud, and lock me into proprietary formats.

Local Hours stores everything as plain JSON files in a folder you choose. Point it at an iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive folder and your data syncs across devices automatically — no docker, no backend, no accounts, no analytics.

How it works: - Start/stop a timer from the macOS menu bar or iOS widgets - Add a short description when you stop - Generate weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly timesheets - Email approvers with an embedded summary or CSV attachment

The storage format is intentionally simple so you can inspect, back up, or migrate your data anytime. Both the macOS and iOS apps point at the same folder, so cross-device sync just works via your cloud storage provider.

It's free on the App Store (iPhone, iPad, Mac): https://apps.apple.com/us/app/local-hours-simple-timesheet/i...

Built with Swift/SwiftUI. MIT licensed. No tracking, no telemetry, no in-app purchases.

I'd love feedback on the UX, the local-first approach, or ideas for what to build next. Android is planned.