FlowBuddy-New

Problem

STEP 1

I have accumulated a vast collection of websites and tools that I use. Navigating through bookmarks and desktop files is time-consuming and completely kills my focus.

Solution

STEP 2

Create an overlay-based system that will act as my second desktop. By clicking a specific key bind we would enter "Flow" mode.

In Flow mode, the user can set up shortcuts for frequently used websites and files.

Market Research

STEP 3

Some existing tools tackle similar problems. However, they are not ideal.

Fences 4 - No website support, Windows Only, Requires Icons.

StreamDeck MK.2 - Takes up desk space, $120 price tag.

UELI / Listary / Alfred - Search-based approach. Consumes more memory. Remembering the exact name of the programs is unreliable.

AutoHotkey - Requires an advanced setup, bad UX.

XLaunchpad - No website support.

Goals

STEP 4

To create a reliable tool we needed to address the issues with other methods. I created a goal list that will ensure we are on track.

1. Cross-platform support.

2. Minimalistic, intuitive design.

3. Free to use.

4. Website support.

Prototype V 1.0

STEP 5

‍I began prototyping a. I settled on the Tkinter library for the first version. After 4 hours I had a version that allowed me to open websites and files using a configured button.

Controls / UI Design

STEP 6

From the start, I wanted the program to feature minimalistic controls. To enhance productivity we needed fewer distractions.

I chose a green/yellow/red button design.

I intended this tri-color concept to define the brand, immediately identifiable in the logo—a smiley face, constructed from the UI controls.

I also wanted the logo to be part of the controls, a decision I regretted later on.

Prototype V 2.0

STEP 7

With ChatGPT at my side, I rewrote the program to use the new PyQt5 library. This took 3 days and more than 700 lines of code.

Unfortunately, the limitations with ChatGPT started to show.

There were no real-time updates, the UI was not structured correctly and the edit and view modes were split into 2 different scripts that weren't correlated.

Expanding The Team

STEP 8

I began looking for real developers to continue on the project. By promoting the project on forums and social media, I found the lead developer for the project.

He linked the edit and view scripts together, and developed dynamic group/shortcut creation.

The first demo was created.

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New Direction

STEP 9

During this project, I developed other personal tools, such as a converter for TTF files, a note-taking tool, and a Pomodoro work clock. These inspired a broader vision for the project.

I envisioned FlowBuddy becoming an overlay-based desktop with other productivity tools in the feature list. To pull this off, I needed more tools.

Demo Interviews / UX

STEP 10

Before I set out to create other tools, I needed to establish a clear design foundation.

I set up phone interviews to test the current state of FlowBuddy.

The interviews revealed the logo control system took too much space and was confusing. The solution was to drop the logo-based controls, in favor of a standard title bar.

Development Recruitment

STEP 11

With the greater scope of the project, I began to look for more developers. The biggest difficulty was finding people that are familiar with PyQt5. Since it is a more advanced library, few people understand how to use it effectively. This resulted in longer onboarding times and slower progress.

Nevertheless, the FlowBuddy server grew to 31 members, 18 stars on GitHub, and 12 developer contributors over its time.

New Apps

STEP 12

I spent some time putting together ideas for potential apps into a votable list. Through this list, the developers could vote on new features, prioritizing the most important ones first.

Note Tool

STEP 13

Note Tool was the first addon I designed for FlowBuddy. The idea was to make a tool with few features to avoid distractions, enabling a quick note-taking workflow instead of the regular, slower text editor approach.

Official Demo

STEP 14

A demo was created with all of the current features.

Launcher

STEP 15

Next step was a centralized launcher for FlowBuddy's tools.

My first idea was to recreate Mac's Launcher. However, that would make the desktop unusable if Flow Buddy is open.

We considered two solutions:

1. Use the default key bind to open the launcher and other custom key binds to open individual apps.

2. Create a FlowBuddy launcher button. When we click this button, a list of apps will open. For specific tools, retaining the individual key bind system.

I decided on solution #2 as it allowed the user to have the FlowBuddy overlay open, without work interference and didn't require to learn all of the key binds.

Cross-Platform Launcher

STEP 16

I needed a default button location. Although the button can be moved, I wanted to figure out the default location.

I made heatmaps for each OS and how they are used.

I placed the button in the bottom middle, above the taskbar. We naturally look there to find frequently used programs, so it made sense to be there. The only OS that uses that space is Windows 11 when clicking the start button. Conveniently, the start menu has an empty space in that exact spot, so that is absolutely perfect for this.

Try It for Yourself

STEP 17

You can check out the development journey and test the program on the GitHub page. The setup is pretty techy for now, so proceed with caution.

Click HERE to visit the GitHub repo.

Future of FlowBuddy

STEP 18

While working on FlowBuddy, I discovered the Flow State, the state in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus and involvement.

As I researched tools that help achieve this state consistently, I found ideas parallel to FlowBuddy.

It was clear, FlowBuddy needed to be a tool that helps others get into the Flow. Interestingly, before I knew of the term, I unknowingly implemented it in the branding for the program.

Because of this, the project gained a deeper level of direction. There was a clear target audience that wants to improve their lifestyle, and I have a way to improve it.

In the future, I plan to reach out to organizations that deal with ADHD, Social Media Addictions, and Success Building Programs. By working with these organizations, I can build up a user base and secure investments for FlowBuddy.