Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/JerryZLiu/Dayflow/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Overview
Dayflow’s Timelapse feature lets you watch a visual playback of your screen activity — a sped-up “movie” of your day. This gives you a different perspective on your timeline beyond text summaries.Timelapses are generated on-demand from the Timeline UI to avoid background battery drain. They’re not created automatically.
How It Works
1. Timelapse Generation
When you click to view a timelapse for a timeline card:- Dayflow retrieves all screenshots associated with that card
- The screenshots are stitched together into a video file
- The video is saved locally for playback
2. Playback
The timelapse player lets you:- Play/pause the timelapse
- Scrub through the timeline using a slider
- Jump to specific moments
- Review what was visible on screen during that activity
Timelapse videos are compressed and stored locally — they don’t leave your Mac.
Use Cases
Verify work done
Visually confirm what you were working on during a specific time period
Catch context switching
See how often you switched between tasks or applications
Review research sessions
Replay what you read or watched during research time
Debug timeline cards
If a timeline card seems inaccurate, watch the timelapse to see what the AI saw
Storage Management
Timelapse videos can accumulate quickly and consume significant disk space.Automatic Storage Limits
Dayflow includes automatic storage cleanup for timelapses:- Configurable limits: Set storage caps from 1GB to 20GB (or unlimited)
- Automatic purging: Oldest timelapses are deleted when limits are reached
- Manual purge: Force cleanup in Settings → Storage
How Purging Works
When timelapse storage exceeds your limit:- Dayflow sorts timelapses by creation date (oldest first)
- Deletes timelapses one-by-one until usage is below the limit
- Logs which files were deleted (visible in Debug view if enabled)
Manual Cleanup
To manually delete all timelapses:- Quit Dayflow
- Delete the folder:
- Restart Dayflow
Storage Configuration
Configure timelapse storage limits in Settings → Storage → Timelapse Storage:| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| 1GB | Minimal storage, ~1-2 days of timelapses |
| 5GB | Light usage, ~1 week of timelapses |
| 10GB | Moderate usage, ~2 weeks of timelapses |
| 20GB | Heavy usage, ~1 month of timelapses |
| Unlimited | No automatic cleanup (use with caution) |
Accessing Timelapse Files
From the App
- Click the Dayflow menu bar icon
- Select Open Recordings Folder
- Navigate to the
timelapses/subdirectory
From Finder
- Open Finder
- Press ⌘⇧G (Go to Folder)
- Enter:
- Press Enter
Timelapse files are standard video files and can be played in QuickTime, VLC, or any video player.
Privacy Considerations
Timelapses are stored locally on your Mac:- No cloud upload: Timelapse videos never leave your machine
- Sensitive content: Be cautious when reviewing timelapses — they may contain passwords, private messages, or other sensitive information
- Sharing: If you share a timelapse externally, be aware of what’s visible on screen
Performance Impact
Timelapse generation is on-demand to minimize battery impact:- No background processing: Timelapses are only created when you request them
- CPU usage: Moderate during generation (video encoding)
- Storage: Timelapses consume more space than screenshots
By generating timelapses on-demand, Dayflow avoids unnecessary battery drain from background video processing.
Troubleshooting
Timelapse playback is choppy
Timelapse playback is choppy
Choppy playback can occur if:
- Low screenshot frequency: Fewer screenshots = more “jumpy” playback
- Missing frames: Some screenshots may have failed to capture
- Video encoding: Try restarting the app and regenerating the timelapse
Timelapse won't generate
Timelapse won't generate
If timelapse generation fails:
- Check that screenshots exist for that timeline card
- Ensure you have enough disk space
- Verify the
timelapses/directory exists and is writable - Check Console.app for error logs (search for “Dayflow”)
Timelapse files are huge
Timelapse files are huge
Timelapses are compressed but can still be large for long sessions. To reduce storage:
- Lower the timelapse storage limit in Settings
- Let automatic purging delete old timelapses
- Manually delete timelapses you no longer need
Can I export a timelapse?
Can I export a timelapse?
Yes! Timelapse files are standard video files stored in:You can copy them to another location or share them externally. Warning: Be careful not to share sensitive screen content.
Comparison: Timelapse vs. Timeline Cards
| Feature | Timeline Cards | Timelapse |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Text summaries | Visual playback |
| Generated | Automatically (background) | On-demand (when requested) |
| Storage | Minimal (~KB per card) | Moderate (~MB per timelapse) |
| Privacy | Sent to AI provider | Stays local |
| Best for | Quick review, context | Visual verification, detailed review |
Next Steps
Timeline
Learn about automatic timeline card generation
Storage Configuration
Configure storage limits for screenshots and timelapses
Export Timeline
Export timeline as Markdown (text-based alternative)
Privacy
Understand where your data is stored