Sift

A work session timer for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Set your work hours, and Sift handles the rest — playing an alarm at each phase transition so you stay on track without watching the clock.

Download

Platform	Download
iOS (.ipa)	Download Sift.ipa
Android (.apk)	Download Sift.apk
macOS	Download Sift-macOS.zip
Windows	Download Sift-Windows.zip

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iOS Installation

iOS requires sideloading via AltStore since the app is not on the App Store.

Step 1 — Install AltStore

Follow the official AltStore setup guide: altstore.io

In short:

1. Download AltServer for Mac from altstore.io and run it (appears in menu bar)
2. Plug your iPhone into your Mac via USB
3. Click AltServer in the menu bar → Install AltStore → select your device
4. On your iPhone: Settings → General → VPN & Device Management → your Apple ID → Trust
5. Enable Developer Mode: Settings → Privacy & Security → Developer Mode → On

Step 2 — Add the Sift source

1. Open AltStore on your iPhone
2. Go to the Browse tab → tap + in the top right
3. Paste this URL:

   https://raw.githubusercontent.com/utsapoddar/sift-work-timer/main/apps.json
   

4. Tap Sift → Free to install

Step 3 — Keep it active

AltStore re-signs the app every 7 days using a free Apple ID. To enable background refresh:

• Keep AltServer running on your Mac
• Make sure your iPhone and Mac are on the same WiFi network

Note: Installation requires your iPhone to be connected via USB or on the same WiFi as a Mac running AltServer.

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Android Installation

1. On your Android phone, download Sift.apk from the latest release
2. Open the downloaded file — you may see a prompt saying "Install unknown apps"
3. Tap Settings on that prompt → enable Allow from this source → go back and tap Install
4. Once installed, open Sift from your app drawer

If you don't see the install prompt, go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps and enable it for your browser or file manager.

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macOS Installation

1. Download Sift-macOS.zip from the latest release
2. Unzip the file — you'll get Sift.app
3. Drag it to your Applications folder
4. On first launch, macOS may say the app can't be opened because it's from an unidentified developer
5. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll down and click Open Anyway
6. Click Open on the confirmation prompt

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Windows Installation

1. Download Sift-Windows.zip from the latest release
2. Unzip the file to a folder of your choice (e.g. C:\Program Files\Sift)
3. Run Sift.exe inside the unzipped folder
4. Windows may show a SmartScreen warning — click More info → Run anyway

The app is portable — no installer needed. You can pin Sift.exe to your taskbar for quick access.

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Features

• Set a custom session length
• Automatic phase transitions (2h work → 15m break → 1h45m work → 1h lunch → repeat)
• Alarm rings at every phase boundary
• Streak tracking to build a daily work habit
• Minimal, distraction-free dark UI

Tech Stack

Component	Tool
Framework	Flutter (Dart)
Storage	shared_preferences
Audio	audioplayers

Source

This repo contains both the app source code and the AltStore distribution source (apps.json).

To build from source:

git clone https://github.com/utsapoddar/sift-work-timer.git
cd sift-work-timer/work_timer
flutter pub get
flutter run