Using the app
Pomodoro keeps a single focus window, a menu bar tray, and three bottom sheets: Tasks, Sessions, and Settings.
Timer
- Choose Focus, Short, or Long under the dial (segmented control).
- Press the large main button - or Space - to start or pause.
- Skip jumps to the next phase in the cycle.
- Reset restarts the current phase’s duration.
Defaults
| Phase | Default length |
|---|---|
| Focus | 25 minutes |
| Short break | 5 minutes |
| Long break | 15 minutes |
| Long break every | 4 completed focus sessions |
All of these are editable in Settings.
Mode switch confirm
If a timer is running or paused, switching Focus / Short / Long asks for confirmation so you do not lose progress by accident.
Cycle dots
Small dots under the dial show progress toward the next long break (completed focus sessions in the current set).
Tasks
Open Tasks with the list icon in the title bar.
- Type a title and add a task.
- Press play on a row to start Focus on that task (sets it active and starts the timer when appropriate).
- When a Focus phase completes while a task is active, its pomodoro count increments.
- The active task appears as a chip under the dial - click it to reopen Tasks.
Mark tasks complete or delete them from the sheet. Data is stored locally (see Privacy).
Sessions history
Open Sessions with the chart icon in the title bar, or from Settings → Sessions.
| Section | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Stats | Focus sessions completed, total focus time, last-7-days count |
| Chart | Daily focus completions for the last 7 days |
| List | Recent sessions - completed, skipped, or stopped |
History is written to a local SQLite database when phases end (complete / skip / stop).
Settings
Open Settings with the gear icon, or ⌘, on macOS.
| Setting | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Focus / short / long durations | Minutes per phase |
| Long break every N | How many focus completions before a long break |
| Auto-start breaks | Start the next break when focus ends |
| Auto-start focus | Start focus when a break ends |
| Sound | Two-tone completion chime |
| Notifications | Native OS notification on phase complete |
| Accent color | Dial + main button color, or Auto by phase |
Tray
The menu bar / system tray icon provides quick controls so you can leave the main window in the background while a session runs.
Accent colors
Accent applies to the progress ring and primary button:
- Auto - red (focus), green (short break), blue (long break) by default phase mapping
- Fixed system-style colors: red, orange, yellow, green, mint, teal, cyan, blue, indigo, purple, pink, brown
Light and dark UI follow the system appearance.