Cognitive Focus Timer: Neurodivergent-Friendly Pomodoro

A Visual Studio Code extension providing a neurodivergent-friendly focus timer with Pomodoro cycles, streak tracking, and session logging. Part of the Sona cognitive accessibility ecosystem.

Built for minds that work differently — ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and anyone who needs structure without stress.

Overview

Traditional timers demand attention. This one respects it.

The Cognitive Focus Timer lives quietly in your status bar, tracking focus sessions without interrupting your flow. It builds streaks to encourage consistency and logs sessions for self-reflection — all without popups, alerts, or guilt.

Key Features

Live Countdown — 🍅 23:45 always visible
Session State — focus, break, paused indicators
Click to Control — start, pause, skip without leaving your code

Pomodoro Cycles

Configurable Durations — focus (25min default), short break (5min), long break (15min)
Auto-Start Breaks — optional automatic transitions
Long Break After N Sessions — every 4 focus sessions by default
Audio Cues — gentle optional sounds (can be disabled)

Streak Tracking

Daily Goals — set target focus sessions per day
Streak Counter — consecutive days meeting your goal
Persistence — survives VS Code restarts
No Shame Mode — streaks reset quietly, no guilt messaging

Session Logging

Automatic Recording — every completed session saved
JSON Export — .focus-timer/sessions.json in workspace
History View — browse past sessions with timestamps
Stats Dashboard — total focus time, average session length

Accessibility First

Minimal Distractions — no popups unless you want them
Gentle Transitions — smooth state changes
Keyboard Friendly — all commands via Command Palette
Theme Aware — respects your color preferences

Commands

Command	Description
Focus Timer: Start	Begin a focus session
Focus Timer: Pause	Pause current timer
Focus Timer: Stop	End session and log
Focus Timer: Skip	Skip to next phase (break → focus)
Focus Timer: Show Stats	Open statistics dashboard
Focus Timer: Show History	Browse past sessions
Focus Timer: Reset Streak	Clear streak (confirmation required)
Focus Timer: Configure	Open settings

Settings

{
  "focusTimer.focusDuration": 25,
  "focusTimer.shortBreakDuration": 5,
  "focusTimer.longBreakDuration": 15,
  "focusTimer.sessionsBeforeLongBreak": 4,
  "focusTimer.autoStartBreaks": true,
  "focusTimer.autoStartFocus": false,
  "focusTimer.dailyGoal": 8,
  "focusTimer.enableSounds": false,
  "focusTimer.showNotifications": false,
  "focusTimer.logSessions": true
}

Session Log Format

Sessions are stored in .focus-timer/sessions.json:

{
  "sessions": [
    {
      "type": "focus",
      "startTime": "2025-01-20T10:00:00Z",
      "endTime": "2025-01-20T10:25:00Z",
      "duration": 25,
      "completed": true
    }
  ],
  "streaks": {
    "current": 5,
    "longest": 12,
    "lastActiveDate": "2025-01-20"
  }
}

Use Cases

Deep Work Sessions

"I need to focus for 2 hours without checking my phone"

Stack multiple Pomodoro cycles with automatic breaks.

ADHD Time Blindness

"I have no sense of how long I've been working"

The status bar keeps you grounded in time.

Building Habits

"I want to code every day but keep forgetting"

Streaks create gentle accountability.

Self-Reflection

"How much did I actually focus this week?"

Session logs provide honest data.

Neurodivergent Design Principles

This timer was built with specific accessibility goals:

No Guilt — missed streaks reset without shame messaging
No Interruption — notifications are opt-in, not default
No Pressure — pause and resume anytime
No Complexity — one click to start, one click to stop
No Judgment — your sessions, your pace

Part of the Sona Ecosystem

Cognitive Focus Timer complements Sona's accessibility features:

Focus Mode — reduce visual noise during focus sessions
Working Memory — capture thoughts without breaking flow
Cognitive Load Awareness — know when you're overextending

Requirements

VS Code 1.74.0 or higher
No additional dependencies

License

MIT License — see LICENSE for details.

Built with 🍅 by WayCore Inc.

Cognitive Focus Timer

Waycore inc.