ERLIK: Activity & Focus Intelligence for Developers

ERLIK is a next-generation activity and focus monitoring tool engineered specifically for macOS. It is designed to track developer workflows, deep work sessions, and autonomous AI agent usage with zero overhead. Unlike traditional trackers that consume significant system resources, ERLIK operates as a lightweight native companion. It leverages Apple Silicon and macOS kernel APIs to provide precise telemetry without draining battery or memory.

Benefits

ERLIK offers several key advantages over other monitoring tools. It is built on a Pure Swift ARM64 architecture, which allows it to run directly on the macOS Mach kernel. This native approach ensures it consumes approximately 8 MB of RAM during operation. This is a stark contrast to legacy solutions that bundle heavy web engines and use much more memory. By avoiding Electron or Chrome-based engines, ERLIK eliminates common memory leaks that can slow down a computer. This ensures the tool itself does not impact the performance of the development environment it monitors.

Another major benefit is its ability to track modern AI workflows. ERLIK detects and quantifies synthetic versus human coding ratios in real-time. It hooks directly into processes like Claude Code and Codex CLI to track multi-agent sessions. Users can see metrics such as a Synthetic Multiplier to understand their leverage. The tool also understands the nuances of developer focus. It prevents false idle states during long-running tasks by inspecting terminal process activity and active socket sessions. This keeps work streaks alive during SSH sessions or long compilations.

Privacy is a core tenet of the design. All data, including code and work habits, is stored strictly locally on the user's machine. There are no cloud servers or external telemetry. Users can also choose to sync data privately via Apple iCloud Drive for easy migration between Macs. The tool includes productivity features like a clipboard history HUD and a memory purge tool to free up gigabytes of accumulated cache with a single click.

Use Cases

ERLIK is ideal for software engineers and AI pioneers who need accurate insights into their engineering hours. It works seamlessly across various terminal emulators like Ghostty, iTerm2, Kitty, and Apple Terminal. Developers can use it to track time spent on specific Git branches and repositories without manual start or stop friction. The tool supports the Model Context Protocol, allowing users to connect local telemetry directly to AI tools like Claude Desktop or Cursor. Users can query their AI assistant for summaries of their coding history across different repositories.

The tool is also useful for teams that need audit trails. It can generate daily or weekly markdown summaries and send automated progress emails or Discord webhooks. It exports raw ActivityWatch-compatible JSON for detailed audits. The integrated Pomodoro engine and 20-20-20 optical wellness notifications help prevent eye strain and burnout during long coding sessions. The clipboard history feature allows users to organize their copied items with labels for quick access.

Pricing

ERLIK offers a flexible licensing model with a free core and a paid Pro edition.

The Free Version is available via Homebrew or GitHub at no cost. It includes the activity monitor, focus tracking, menu-bar companion, local web dashboard, iCloud sync, and weekly email or Discord reports. Installation is done using the command brew install halilertekin/tap/erlik.

The Pro Version is available on the Mac App Store for a one-time fee of $19.99. There are no subscription fees. This version includes all Free features plus the clipboard history HUD, AI-agent and remote-session intelligence, a native dashboard window ready at launch, a fully sandboxed environment, and automatic updates. Installation is a one-click process via the Mac App Store.

Both versions share the same native Swift engine. The Pro version is sandboxed for App Store compliance, while the Homebrew version offers the full suite of utilities including the clipboard HUD and cache cleaner.

Vibes

ERLIK represents a shift in developer telemetry. It moves away from resource-heavy, cloud-dependent trackers toward a lightweight, privacy-focused, and AI-aware solution. By running natively on Apple Silicon with minimal overhead, it provides accurate insights into both human and synthetic engineering hours. This makes it an essential tool for modern software engineers and AI pioneers who value performance and data privacy.

Additional Information

ERLIK is developed by Halil Ertekin and is available on GitHub. The project highlights its unique position in tracking the modern workflow where developers orchestrate multiple AI agents simultaneously. It supports a wide range of AI tools and terminal environments, making it a versatile choice for diverse development setups. The project emphasizes its commitment to privacy by ensuring all data remains local unless the user chooses to sync via iCloud.