anzerarkin

I don’t think this is only a kids issue.

A lot of adults need this too. The addictive apps are very well designed, while most blockers are either too easy to ignore or too annoying to keep using.

I built a small iOS blocker because I had the same problem. Making it strict enough to actually work without making people hate it is the main challenge.

I hate the voice ai though, it's so much dumber

Well, even working as an AI engineer is no longer secure. It may soon be the case that all humans work for bots created by others. Is that the universal salary we are talking about?

I also made an app to fix my scrolling issue — it’s called EvoCat.

The idea came from wanting to combine the best parts of all the focus apps I used: scheduled block sessions like Opal, mindful breathing interruptions like One Sec, and some light gamification to make it feel less like punishment.

EvoCat is a small animated character (a cat-phone hybrid) that evolves as you stay focused. The longer you avoid distractions, the stronger it becomes — and the harder it gets to cancel your focus sessions. It turns screen time control into something a bit more playful, but still effective.

I currently have a beta available on iOS and I’m happy to share a TestFlight link if anyone wants to try it out. You can also check it out here: https://evocat.app

Would love feedback from fellow builders and focus-app nerds :)

Hi HN, I've been working on a solution to a problem I personally struggled with—maintaining focus in our hyper-connected digital environment. Rather than simply blocking apps or showing stats, I wanted to create something that would make the journey toward better digital habits engaging and rewarding. EvoCat is the result: a digital companion that evolves visually as you build better focus habits. Think of it as a Tamagotchi with a purpose. Your cat grows stronger when you successfully complete focus sessions, and it provides increasingly sophisticated interventions (like guided breathing exercises) when you're tempted by distractions. Technical highlights:

Uses on-device activity monitoring without sending data to servers Implements progressive friction that adapts to your usage patterns Gamifies focus with visual pet evolution that provides tangible progress markers Combines scheduled focus sessions with real-time intervention

I'd love feedback from the HN community on both the concept and implementation. Has anyone else tried merging digital wellbeing with virtual pets? What other interaction patterns might make focus more engaging? You can try it at [https://evocat.app]. There's a free tier to get started.