HumbleBee: local-first time tracking for developers
HumbleBee
HumbleBee is time tracking for developers who prefer tools that respect their workflow.
It is local-first, private by default, and designed to stay out of your way. There is no mandatory cloud account, no complicated setup, and no bloated process around a simple task. You install it, initialize it once, and start tracking.
Why HumbleBee
Most time tracking tools are built around dashboards, permissions, and subscriptions first. HumbleBee starts from a different assumption: developers want a tool that is fast, scriptable, understandable, and fully under their control.
That means:
- your data stays on your machine in a local SQLite database,
- the CLI is the primary interface,
- the workflow is simple enough to use every day,
- and the software remains transparent and close to the developer.
Privacy by design
HumbleBee stores its data locally in ~/.humblebee/humblebee.db. No external service is required for the core workflow. If you want to track your time privately, offline, or inside a stricter development environment, HumbleBee fits naturally.
For developers and independent professionals, that matters. Time tracking often contains sensitive client names, internal project details, or work patterns. HumbleBee keeps that information where it belongs: with you.
Developer-first features
HumbleBee is intentionally opinionated in the right places:
- Local-first architecture with embedded SQLite and no CGO dependency
- Fast CLI workflow for starting, stopping, and reporting time
- Hierarchical work items such as
Client Project A > Feature Development - Monthly reports built into the tool
- Safe health checks and repair support with
humblebee doctor - Cross-platform installation for macOS, Linux, and Windows
- Early cross-platform GUI prototype for users who want a desktop interface later
Examples
Initialize your workspace:
humblebee init --email user@example.com --workitem "Client Project A"
Add structured work items:
humblebee add "Client Project A"
humblebee add "Client Project A > Feature Development"
humblebee show
Track time with minimal friction:
humblebee start "Client Project A > Feature Development"
humblebee stop
Generate a report for the current month:
humblebee report
Run a health check if you want to verify the local setup:
humblebee doctor
Built for focused work
HumbleBee does not try to be a project management suite. It does one thing well: it helps you track time with as little friction as possible.
That makes it a strong fit for:
- freelance developers,
- consultants,
- makers who bill by project,
- and technical users who prefer local tools over SaaS.
Get started
HumbleBee is available as an installable CLI and can be built from source.
Project page: