A brutal reality-check web app that shows how much of your life is lost to social media scrolling.
I used AI like a coding partner to help me fix some bugs and css
I built a Chrome extension called Scroll Mirror that tracks real-time scrolling behavior across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. Most tools only measure how long a tab is open, which is misleading. I wanted something that only counts time when you’re actually scrolling and consuming content.
The hardest part was designing a reliable tracking system in Manifest V3. My initial idea was to use a shared background counter across tabs using SharedWorker, but that doesn’t work in Chrome extensions. I solved this by using a service worker as the single source of truth, with content scripts sending activity signals at intervals. Handling duplicate timers and keeping tracking accurate across tabs was also tricky.
I’m most proud of turning this into a full system — not just tracking, but feedback (live badge), analytics (7-day breakdown), and intervention (Pomodoro mode, break overlay, breathing + sound).
Problems: No input validation and weak flow between input and result.
Work Done: Added validation, improved text, and made the results feel more impactful. Tested different scenarios.
Things Learned: Even a simple static site needs good flow and clear messaging to leave an impact.
11:00 IST-Thursday-02/04/26
Log in to leave a comment
Problems: The design looked too basic in the beginning. Faced issues with alignment and mobile responsiveness.
Work Done: Simplified the layout, used bold text for key results, and improved spacing. Made sure it works on different screen sizes.
Things Learned: Clean design makes a big difference, especially in simple projects.
17:27 IST - Sunday - 29/03/26
Log in to leave a comment
Day 2
Problems: The numbers didn’t feel realistic at first. Also had to handle cases like empty input or very large values.
Work Done: Created functions to convert daily scroll time into yearly and lifetime values. Added simple comparisons like books, skills, and languages.
Things Learned: Even simple logic needs to be accurate. Users quickly lose trust if results feel wrong.
19:32 IST-24/03/26
Log in to leave a comment
Day 1
Problems: The idea felt too common at first and similar to basic screen-time calculators. I was also unsure whether to focus more on features or the message.
Work Done: I decided to keep it a simple one-page static site using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I focused on showing “life lost” instead of just time spent. This made the concept stronger and more meaningful.
Things Learned: For a static website, the idea and message matter more than complexity. If the core idea is weak, the project won’t stand out.
13:17 IST -Saturday-21/03/26
Log in to leave a comment