Hey there,
I am Adrian Holmes, the developer and creator of Crumbs. I wanted to reach out to users personally because I value any opinion and feedback to make Crumbs the ideal time tracking app. So I’ve decided to create an user feedback program. Well, its pretty much just a form at the bottom of this page.
A little about why I created Crumbs…
For a long time I had struggled to keep track of what I’ve been working on as a developer. I worked for many agencies and juggled many projects and tasks, and I often needed to either make sense of what I have been working on, or needed to fill in actual timesheets for the companies I worked for.
I hated timesheets!
Timesheets were a nightmare for me. At the end of every month I had to try figure out what I had spent my time on and roughly estimate the hours spent each day of the week. I dreaded it every month.
However, I was a developer. I was supposed to find solutions to problems like this. So I set out to find a way to track my time better.
The search for the perfect time tracker…
Upon first searching for time tracking apps, I found there were plenty options out there. I immediately started downloading different time tracking apps and began testing them out. For the most part, the various apps were very similar. They were simple and to the point. You can add an entry to your log or start a timer which you could stop at any time to accurate logs of what you were working on. It seemed straight forward.
Time tracking is extra admin!
After a lot of trial and error, I came to realise that I wasn’t good at tracking my time. It was admin. I had to manually add entries or specifically start-stop timers, which I just kept forgetting. And it felt like more effort to remain on track with the timers. It also required manually setting up the categories. Time tracking software was not going to solve my problem.
I needed Crumbs to exist
I needed something different. I just could not get myself to doing the extra admin. I could not remember to track my time. I needed something automated. What I felt I needed was a way to regularly log what I am up to every hour.
Its really not complicated!
All I needed was a simply prompt to popup every hour or so to check in on me. To ask me what I am doing. Thats all. Nothing hectic. I wanted to leave a trail of clues because in the end, I did not need accurate. I needed an estimate. And on top of that, I needed a simply overview or summary of how these clues added up. Per day, per week and per month.
I created Crumbs
Eventually I decided to build exactly what I wanted. I created a desktop app that allowed me to control how frequently I got prompted to leave a clue of what I am busy with at regular intervals. To start with, I wanted to be asked what I am busy with every hour. On the hour, every hour.
I wanted the prompt to be in my face. To butt in while I am working to quickly leave a note. And poof, gone again. Out of my hair without needing to worry about when to do it again. It will just nag me again in an hour.
I love Crumbs!
Over time I refined the app to be a bit more intuitive for my needs, and added features I didn’t realise I needed, such as snoozing a prompt if I don’t want to lose my train of thought but still want to leave a Crumbs a little later. I also wanted to make it easy to just skip a Crumb. I never wanted Crumbs to be admin. I wanted it to be my assistant. Now I cannot work without Crumbs.
Special thanks to my friend Richard
Richard was my sound board. He shared my struggle with timesheets. And with our common struggle, he constantly help test Crumbs and provide ongoing feedback that I used to refine and improve the app. Eventually we got Crumbs to a place where we started depending on it. Thank you Richard!
Now we need Crumbs
Its gotten to a point where we need Crumbs. If we want to keep track of what we have been doing, without our workflow being affected with extra admin, we need Crumbs. I honestly do not know how else I would be able to keep track of my activities in a way that makes sense. I am so grateful at the end of every week and month that I have an overview of what I have been doing. I created tables that are easy on the eyes and added bells and whistles along the way.
I want you to love Crumbs too
This brings me back to the user feedback program. I want you to love Crumbs as well. I do not want to stop with my own needs and desires for the app. I want to keep going. I want to see what others might want to see Crumbs do. How it could also become a indispensable tool for others. I also want to know if there are any issues with how it currently works. Does it help you? Is it close? Or is it frustrating? How do you feel about Crumbs and how does it work for you? I would love to know.
Free premium access
I know that constructive feedback takes time. To give proper feedback and ideas, takes effort and intention. So I want to be able to give something in return. I think an ideal way to return the favour is to give full access to the app we are both working on. I would happily give free premium access to those who reach out to give their time and their feedback.
I would love to get in touch, setup a call sometime, and talk about Crumbs. I want to know what ideas you might have and what changes you wish to see. What will make Crumbs an awesome tool for you?
Let me know if you are keen
Use the form below to reach out to me about this user feedback program to see how you can help and how I can set you up with premium access. I would be grateful for you input!