FocusFlame

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  FocusFlame — a focus timer that turns every distraction into a visible wax drip.

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  FocusFlame app icon

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  FocusFlame Pro with custom session durations and Candle Shelf unlocked

Inspiration

FocusFlame was inspired by a simple problem: traditional focus timers record time, but they do not show what happened during that time. We wanted to make distraction visible.

What it does

FocusFlame is an Android focus timer where a virtual candle burns during a session. If the user leaves the app while the screen is still on, that interruption becomes a visible wax drip on the candle. At the end of the session, the finished candle becomes a visual record of how focused the session really was.

How we built it

FocusFlame is being built as a native Android app using Kotlin and Jetpack Compose. Session timing is based on timestamps rather than simple countdown counters, and distraction events are recorded locally on the device. RevenueCat is used to manage Pro access, including features such as the full Candle Shelf and custom session durations.

Challenges we ran into

The main challenge was defining distraction in a way that was simple, reliable and fair. Leaving the app while the screen remains on is treated as a distraction, while turning the screen off is not. Another challenge was making the candle and wax drips visually clear enough to communicate focus behaviour instantly.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The core idea is intentionally small: instead of adding more productivity features, FocusFlame turns the focus session itself into a visual object. Every finished candle tells a different story.

What we learned

We learned that a simple visual metaphor can communicate behaviour more clearly than another dashboard, chart or streak counter. We also learned how to integrate RevenueCat into a focused Android product without requiring a backend or user account.

What's next for FocusFlame

Next steps could include a richer Candle Shelf, additional candle styles, improved sharing, and longer-term focus history.

Built With

• android
• jetpack-compose
• kotlin
• revenue