Installation

How is Linux version different

ManicTime for Linux is a tracker that records computer usage and sends it to ManicTime Cloud or ManicTime Server, where you can view timelines, tag time, and run reports. On Linux, you can use the tray icon to manage the tracker and the Away window to tag time away from the computer. There is no local Day view like the Windows client has. Available tracking details depend on the desktop environment; see ManicTime on Wayland if you use Wayland.

Before you install ManicTime

To view your tracked timelines, sign up for ManicTime Cloud or set up ManicTime Server, then connect your Linux device. You can run the tracker without a connection, but you cannot view the tracked timelines locally. Connect it to Cloud or Server when you are ready to view them.

Installation

1. Download and install package

Ubuntu, Mint

Download ManicTime.deb and double click on it to start installation.

Debian

Download ManicTime.deb and run it with

sudo dpkg -i ManicTime.deb; sudo apt -f install -y;

CentOS and RedHat

Download ManicTime.rpm and run it with

sudo yum install <downloaded file>.rpm

Arch Linux, Manjaro, Fedora

Download the Arch Linux, Manjaro, Fedora version of ManicTime.tar.gz from the download page. Do not use the tar.gz for other Linux distributions here: on Arch Linux it crashes with a segmentation fault the first time it starts.

Install the required packages first. On Arch Linux and Manjaro:

sudo pacman -S --needed libappindicator libx11 libxss krb5 icu

On Fedora:

sudo dnf install libappindicator-gtk3 libX11-devel libXScrnSaver gssntlmssp openssl-libs krb5-libs

On Arch Linux and Manjaro, gss-ntlmssp is only available in the AUR. You only need it to connect to an on-premise ManicTime Server that uses NTLM authentication.

Then extract the downloaded file to some folder and run it with

./manictime

Other Linux distributions

There are some packages you need to install before ManicTime will start working. These packages are different on different Linux distributions, so you will need to find comparable packages on your distribution. Some only apply to X11 display server, and can be skipped if running Wayland.

The following are lists of required packages on Ubuntu and CentOs (note that if you use Ubuntu or CentOs, just use the installer which will install these packages)

Ubuntu

  • libc6-dev
  • libappindicator3-1
  • libx11-dev (X11 only)
  • libxss1 (X11 only)
  • gss-ntlmssp
  • libkrb5-3

CentOs

  • libappindicator-gtk3
  • libX11-devel (X11 only)
  • libXScrnSaver (X11 only)
  • gssntlmssp
  • openssl-libs
  • krb5-libs

Once you have similar packages installed for your distribution, download ManicTime.tar.gz, extract to some folder and run it with

./manictime

Wayland screenshots

None of the packages or lists above include the GStreamer components that ManicTime uses for screenshots on Wayland. If you use Wayland, also install the packages listed under ScreenCast portal requirements.

Upgrading a tar.gz installation

ManicTime installed from a tar.gz is a portable installation: it keeps its data in the Data folder next to the program, not in your home folder. To upgrade, quit ManicTime and extract the new version into the same folder. Your Data folder is kept.

If you extract a new version into a different folder, that copy starts without your settings and data. ManicTime also adds a second autostart entry in ~/.config/autostart, so both copies start when you log in. Delete the manictime<id>.desktop file whose Exec line points to the old folder.

Troubleshooting

Using Wayland display server?

ManicTime on Wayland

ManicTime writes a log to ~/.config/manictime/Logs (.deb and .rpm) or to Data/Logs in the ManicTime folder (tar.gz). The newest ManicTimeTracker_<date>.log usually shows why something is not working; include it when you contact support.

If you have problems installing or running ManicTime, you may need to:

If a Windows-authenticated ManicTime Server requires NTLM and the Linux client does not connect with the default authentication negotiation, set http.forceNtlm to true in ManicTimeTrackerSettings.json in the ManicTime data folder, then restart ManicTime:

{
  "http": {
    "forceNtlm": true
  }
}

Use this only for that server connection scenario; the default allows normal authentication negotiation.

2. Run ManicTime

Run ManicTime from StartMenu/Applications/Office/ManicTime. If it runs successfully, you should see ManicTime icon in the status menu bar.

Using Gnome desktop environment?

If you are using Gnome desktop environment, you might not be able to see tray application icon upon installation.

You can fix this by installing KStatusNotifierItem/AppIndicator Support

When you open the app, choose "Connect to ManicTime Cloud"

Choose "Connect to ManicTime Cloud"

Then enter your username and password to connect to the cloud.

Connect to ManicTime cloud

Now you can click on ManicTime icon, choose "Go to server". On the server, you should now see data from Linux.

View data to server

Connecting to ManicTime Server

First check that ManicTime Server is running and is accessible from the Linux device. Open a browser and navigate to ManicTime Server. If you can get to the server and everything looks OK, connect to the server from ManicTime for Linux.

Choose "Connect to on premise ManicTime Server"

Click on "Connect to on premise ManicTime Server", then enter the IP and port information of ManicTime server.

Open server connection window

Then enter your username and password (if server is using Windows authentication, then these are your Windows credentials, same as when you login to Windows).

Server connection window

Then go to the ManicTime server, Administration, Connected devices. You should see Linux machine under connected devices. You should also see data coming from Linux on Timelines report.

View data to server

You can also view the data in ManicTime for Windows.

View data in ManicTime Windows

Uninstalling

Remove the package with sudo apt remove manictime (.deb) or sudo yum remove manictime (.rpm). For a tar.gz installation, quit ManicTime and delete its folder.

Removing ManicTime does not delete its data. To remove everything, also delete:

  • ~/.config/manictime: tracked data, settings and logs of a .deb or .rpm installation (a tar.gz installation keeps these in its Data folder)
  • ~/.local/share/manictime: the key that protects ManicTime's locally stored license and sign-in data
  • ~/.config/autostart/manictime*.desktop: the autostart entry
  • ~/.local/share/applications/ManicTime*.desktop: the application menu shortcut of a tar.gz installation

If you back up ManicTime's data folder, back up ~/.local/share/manictime as well.