What it does
Hamster is a GNOME time tracker for individuals. Users record time against activities they choose, then review how their day was spent. The official repository describes the main application as a stable legacy project and notes that a separate rewrite effort exists; it is distributed as free software under GPL-3.0. The old app is available through Linux distributions and Flatpak.
Hamster is for Linux users who want a personal activity log rather than team billing or attendance administration. The desktop app records chosen activities and helps summarize time across a day. The official repository calls the current application stable legacy software and points to a separate rewrite effort, so verify which package and project line are maintained before deployment. It is GPL-3.0 software, available through distribution packages and Flatpak; setup and data management are local to the user.
Strengths
- Tracks time against activities chosen by the individual and summarizes daily use.
- GPL-3.0 desktop software distributed through Linux channels and Flatpak.
Watch out for
- The repository describes the current app as stable legacy software with a separate rewrite effort.
- Focused on individual activity logging rather than team approvals, invoicing, or payroll.
Best for
- Linux users recording personal work activities through the day
- Individuals who prefer a local desktop time log over a cloud team service
Sources
- Hamster - The GNOME Time Tracker (Oct 26, 2026)