Hey everyone, I'm excited to share some significant improvements to how MakeTimeFlow handles timing and scheduling - changes that should help you focus on getting things done while the system handles the cognitive overhead of time management. ## Intelligent Timer Duration Selection One of the biggest upgrades in this release is **flexible timer duration selection**. Previously, you were locked into using a task's expected duration when starting a timer. Now you have the freedom to choose different durations, which opens up some powerful new workflows: ### Working in Increments You can now specify that a task will take many hours but choose to work on it in small, focused increments throughout the day. This is perfect for: - **Highlight tasks** that you want to make progress on consistently - **Complex projects** that benefit from distributed effort rather than marathon sessions - **Creative work** that benefits from incubation time between focused sessions ### When Deep Work Isn't Possible We all know that ideal deep work sessions aren't always possible. This feature acknowledges that reality and gives you the tools to make meaningful progress even when your day is fragmented by meetings, interruptions, or other commitments. ![[Flow Custom Task Time Duration.png]] ## Meeting Conflict Detection I've personally experienced the frustration of inadvertently starting a timer that overlaps with a meeting - it breaks flow and creates unnecessary stress. The system now includes **intelligent meeting conflict detection**: ### How It Works - When you start a timer, the system checks for scheduled meetings that overlap with your intended work time - It specifically looks for meetings with other participants (meetings you've scheduled with others or that others have scheduled with you) - You need to have *calendar integration enabled* for this to work ### Smart Suggestions When a conflict is detected, the system doesn't just warn you - it **suggests an adjusted start time** that: - Gives you maximum work time before the meeting - Includes a 5-minute buffer for meeting preparation - Respects your intended work duration when possible ![[Flow Task Start Meeting Conflict Detection.png]] ### Calendar Integration Required This feature requires calendar integration to detect meetings with participants. The system needs to know about events involving other people to distinguish between personal time blocks and actual meeting commitments. ## The Philosophy Behind These Changes These improvements align with a core principle of MakeTimeFlow: **eliminating cognitive overhead around time calculations** so you can focus on the work that matters. Instead of you having to: - Mentally calculate how much time you have before your next meeting - Decide whether a task duration fits your available time - Remember to leave buffer time for meeting preparation The system handles these calculations for you, letting you make informed decisions without the mental tax of time management arithmetic. ## Technical Implementation For those interested in the technical details, these features involved several key improvements: ### Backend Changes - Enhanced timer creation logic to support duration overrides - Conflict detection algorithms that respect meeting participants - Smart scheduling suggestions with buffer time calculations ### Frontend Enhancements - New duration selection interface in timer creation - Meeting conflict warning modals with suggested alternatives - Improved timer start flow that guides you through potential conflicts ### Bug Fixes Along the Way - Removed Flowbite JS dependency that was causing modal conflicts - Fixed learning stage default icon handling - Improved timeblocking form reliability - Enhanced modal stimulus component compatibility ## Getting Started These features are available immediately - no download required as they're server-side improvements. To take full advantage: 1. **Enable calendar integration** in your settings if you haven't already 2. **Try the flexible duration feature** next time you start a timer on a large task 3. **Notice the meeting conflict detection** - it will automatically warn you when relevant ## What's Next These improvements set the foundation for even smarter time management features. I'm particularly excited about potential future enhancements like: - Automatic task time estimation based on your work patterns - Intelligent break suggestions between intensive work sessions - Proactive scheduling recommendations based on your energy patterns and calendar As always, I'd love to hear your feedback on these changes. How do they fit into your workflow? What other time management friction points would you like to see addressed? Best, Narath --- *This update includes commits from September 13, 2025, focusing on intelligent tasking improvements and meeting conflict detection.*