2fa VS Clockode

• Simple CLI tool
  2fa is a lightweight command-line two-factor authentication tool that generates TOTP codes directly from the terminal, making it convenient for developers and power users who prefer working in the command line.
• No phone dependency
  By storing 2FA secrets on your computer, you eliminate the need to pull out your phone every time you need a TOTP code. This is especially useful when working at a desktop and logging into services frequently.
• Easy integration with workflows
  As a CLI tool, 2fa can be easily scripted and integrated into automated workflows, shell scripts, or combined with other command-line tools for streamlined authentication processes.
• Minimal and focused
  Written in Go by Russ Cox (a prominent Go team member), the tool is minimal, well-written, and does one thing well — generating time-based one-time passwords. It has very few dependencies and is easy to build and install.
• Open source and auditable
  The source code is publicly available on GitHub, allowing users to inspect, audit, and verify the security of the tool themselves, which is important for a security-sensitive application.

Possible disadvantages

• Secrets stored on local machine
  Storing 2FA secrets on your computer means that if your machine is compromised, an attacker could gain access to both your passwords and your 2FA codes, effectively defeating the purpose of two-factor authentication.
• No encryption by default
  The secrets are stored in a plain text file (in the user's home directory), which means anyone with access to the filesystem can read the 2FA keys without needing to decrypt anything, posing a significant security risk.
• Limited maintenance and updates
  The repository has minimal recent activity, and as a small personal project, it may not receive timely security updates or new features compared to more actively maintained alternatives.
• No backup or sync features
  The tool does not provide built-in backup, sync, or export functionality. If you lose your machine or the stored secrets file, you lose access to all your 2FA codes and must reset them with each service individually.
• Reduces security of 2FA
  Two-factor authentication is designed to require something you know (password) and something you have (a separate device). By putting 2FA on the same computer where you enter passwords, you collapse both factors into a single device, weakening the security model.

• Open Source
  Clockode is open source, allowing users to inspect, modify, and enhance the code according to their needs.
• Customizability
  Since it's open source, users have the flexibility to customize the software to better suit their specific time management and tracking requirements.
• Community Support
  By being hosted on GitHub, Clockode benefits from community support where users can contribute to its development, report issues, or suggest features.
• Transparency
  The open codebase ensures transparency, allowing users to ensure there are no hidden security vulnerabilities or data privacy concerns.

Possible disadvantages

• Limited Documentation
  Open source projects like Clockode may suffer from limited or less detailed documentation, which can make it challenging for new users to get started.
• Maintenance
  Relying on community contributions can sometimes lead to inconsistent maintenance, especially if the project lacks dedicated developers.
• Learning Curve
  Users might face a learning curve, especially if they are not familiar with programming or the technologies used in Clockode.
• Potential Bugs
  As with many open source projects, there may be unresolved issues or bugs that the community hasn't yet addressed.

• Android apps running native on macOS

  For standard RFC6238 TOTP you can just use this: https://github.com/rsc/2fa/. - Source: Hacker News / 21 days ago

Tracking Clockode since Jun 2025.