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Hello HN,

I built TimeProof, a native macOS app to solve a problem I faced as a freelancer: providing proof of work without using invasive "spyware" or expensive subscription services like Upwork/Hubstaff.

The Problem: Most time tracking tools require monthly fees, upload your data to their servers, and often capture more than you're comfortable with. Clients want verification (screenshots/timelogs), but I wanted privacy and ownership of my data.

The Solution: TimeProof is a standalone, local-first SwiftUI app that automates screenshot capture and time logging.

Local Data: All screenshots and logs (times.csv) are saved directly to a folder you choose on your machine. Nothing leaves your device.

Proof Generation: It automatically stitches your session screenshots into a timelapse video (using AVFoundation/VideoToolbox for hardware acceleration), creating a visual "proof of work" artifact you can send to clients alongside your invoice.

Privacy Controls: You control when it runs. It only captures the screens you select.

Native Performance: Written in Swift/SwiftUI. No Electron bloat.

Technical Details:

Uses CGWindowListCreateImage (and transitioning to ScreenCaptureKit) for efficient capture.

Custom AVAssetWriter implementation with a pixel buffer pool to handle 4K/Retina timelapse generation without memory spikes.

Sandboxed with security-scoped bookmarks to persist access to project folders across reboots securely.

I built this to scratch my own itch, but I realized other devs and freelancers might find it useful. It's completely free to use.

Link: [App Store Link] (or your website if you have one)

I'd love to hear your feedback on the workflow or any feature requests!


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