> ██████╗  █████╗  ██████╗████████╗ ██████╗ 
> ██╔══██╗██╔══██╗██╔════╝╚══██╔══╝██╔═══██╗
> ██████╔╝███████║██║        ██║   ██║   ██║
> ██╔═══╝ ██╔══██║██║        ██║   ██║   ██║
> ██║     ██║  ██║╚██████╗   ██║   ╚██████╔╝
> ╚═╝     ╚═╝  ╚═╝ ╚═════╝   ╚═╝    ╚═════╝ 
> Pressure → Aim → Constraint → Terminate → Outcome reflection

A focused work timer built on psychology, not just pomodoros.

PACTO replaces the vague “did you work?” with an honest “did you produce what you planned?” It does this by combining a fixed deadline, an explicit outcome, a mandatory hard stop, and a forced review—turning well-studied cognitive principles into a simple, repeatable loop.

How it works

1. Decide what concrete output you’ll create in the next bout.
2. Start the timer. The window minimizes—no distractions.
3. Stop the moment the timer ends, even if you’re mid-flow.
4. Review: Complete, shift the outcome forward, or discard it.

Every session is logged locally. No accounts, no cloud.

The psychology behind the loop

PACTO’s workflow isn’t arbitrary. It’s a deliberate chain of evidence-based techniques:

• Fixed deadlines fight Parkinson’s Law. Work expands to fill the time you give it; a hard limit creates the healthy urgency that defeats perfectionism.
• Naming an outcome is an implementation intention. Specifying what and when automates focus so you don’t rely on willpower alone.
• A hard stop exploits the Zeigarnik Effect. Interrupted tasks stick in memory, creating mental tension that pulls you into the next bout—especially when you shift an unfinished outcome.
• Forced review builds metacognition. Explicitly judging your output (complete / shift / discard) creates a feedback loop that improves planning and performance over time, much like self-regulated learning interventions.

Together, these form Pressure → Aim → Constraint → Terminate → Outcome reflection.

Features

• Configurable bout length (1–180 minutes)
• Outcome commitment before each timer starts
• Shift mechanic to carry unfinished outcomes forward
• Session history grouped by date with time ranges
• Start and end chimes
• Optional lo‑fi focus music (drop .mp3 files next to the .exe)
• Theme switcher (Windows 7, Windows XP, Arcade)
• Single portable .exe — no install required

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Download

Get the latest .exe from Releases.

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Build from source

git clone https://github.com/Tushar-R-Tyagi/pacto-desktop.git
cd pacto-desktop
wails build