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Personal Agency With Git Time Logging

Mar 29, 2025 - doocot.sh
The article by Doug Bridgens discusses the implementation of automated time-tracking for software development using git hooks. Bridgens argues that while time-tracking can be seen as intrusive, it can also empower developers by providing insights into how time is spent on coding tasks. By tagging each merged feature branch with the time spent from branch creation to merging, developers can objectively measure their coding time, identify trends, and make informed decisions to improve productivity. This approach aims to highlight the effort involved in making changes, excluding thinking or planning time, and can reveal anomalies or trends over time, such as the impact of AI-assisted coding on development speed.

Bridgens provides a practical guide on setting up these git hooks through a Makefile, allowing developers to integrate this time-tracking system into their workflow seamlessly. The process involves creating a new branch, making changes, committing, and merging back to the master branch, with the git hooks automatically tagging the time spent. This system is intended to offer a more realistic understanding of coding time, helping developers identify where inefficiencies may lie and potentially demonstrating the benefits of tools like AI in reducing development time.

Key takeaways:

  • Automated time-tracking using git hooks helps developers understand where time is spent and improve productivity.
  • Time-tracking tags are created for each merged feature branch, providing a more accurate measure of development time than estimates.
  • The process involves creating a new branch, making changes, and using git hooks to log time spent from branch creation to merging.
  • The method aims to highlight development effort and identify trends or anomalies, such as the impact of AI-assisted coding on productivity.
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