Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

SelfControl VS Devhints

Compare SelfControl VS Devhints and see what are their differences

SelfControl logo SelfControl

V2 updates! - Custom time interval for distraction free mode - Ability to turn off ' always on' mode - Improved UI -- Self Control -- A simple app to keep you focused online by blocking sites that you spend way too much time on.

Devhints logo Devhints

TL;DR for developer documentation
  • SelfControl Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-19
  • Devhints Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-14

SelfControl features and specs

  • Effective Website Blocking
    SelfControl blocks access to distracting websites based on a customizable blocklist, helping users stay focused.
  • Timer Functionality
    Users can set a timer for how long they want websites to remain blocked, ensuring focused work periods without distraction.
  • Free to Use
    SelfControl is open-source and free to download and use, making it accessible to anyone without financial barriers.
  • Easy to Use
    The interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing users to quickly set their preferences and get started.

Possible disadvantages of SelfControl

  • Mac-Only
    SelfControl is only available for macOS, excluding Windows and Linux users from using the application.
  • No Undo Option
    Once the block period is set and started, it cannot be undone even by restarting the computer, which could be an issue if access to blocked sites is needed unexpectedly.
  • Limited Feature Set
    The app primarily focuses on website blocking, lacking additional productivity tools or features like app blocking or usage analytics.
  • No Scheduled Blocking
    SelfControl does not offer the ability to schedule block sessions in advance, meaning users must manually start each session.

Devhints features and specs

  • Concise Information
    Devhints provides cheat sheets that offer quick, high-level overviews of various programming languages, frameworks, and tools. This makes it easy to get the required information without wading through extensive documentation.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The website is designed with a minimalistic and clean interface, making navigation intuitive. This allows users to find the information they need quickly and efficiently.
  • Broad Range of Topics
    Devhints covers a wide variety of programming languages and tools, catering to a broad audience of developers with different specialties.
  • Regular Updates
    The cheat sheets are frequently updated to reflect the latest changes and additions in the programming languages and tools they cover, ensuring that the information is current.
  • Community-Driven
    Users can contribute to the cheat sheets, allowing for a collaborative environment where the community helps to keep the resources relevant and accurate.

Possible disadvantages of Devhints

  • Limited Depth
    While Devhints is excellent for quick reference, it often lacks in-depth explanations and comprehensive guides, making it unsuitable for deep learning or understanding complex concepts.
  • Requires Existing Knowledge
    The cheat sheets are more suitable for experienced developers who need a quick reminder rather than beginners who are just starting and need more detailed explanations and tutorials.
  • Inconsistent Coverage
    Some cheat sheets are more detailed than others, which can lead to inconsistent coverage across different programming languages and tools. This may make it less reliable for certain topics.
  • Dependency on Community Contributions
    The quality and accuracy of the information can be inconsistent as it relies on community contributions. This may result in occasional outdated or incorrect data.
  • No Offline Access
    Devhints is a web-based tool, so users need an internet connection to access the cheat sheets. This can be inconvenient in situations where internet access is limited or unavailable.

Analysis of SelfControl

Overall verdict

  • Overall, SelfControl is a highly recommended tool for individuals looking to enhance their productivity by minimizing digital distractions. Its open-source nature and no-nonsense approach make it a popular choice among students, freelancers, and professionals alike.

Why this product is good

  • SelfControl is considered a good application because it effectively blocks distracting websites, helping users focus on their tasks without getting sidetracked by online distractions. It's simple to use, efficient, and highly customizable, allowing users to specify which sites to block and for how long, ensuring a tailored productivity experience.

Recommended for

    SelfControl is ideal for students who need to concentrate on studying, remote workers who want to avoid procrastination, freelancers who require discipline in managing their time, and anyone who needs a simple solution to reduce digital distractions during focused work periods.

Analysis of Devhints

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Devhints is considered a good resource, especially for developers who prefer quick and easy access to coding references.

Why this product is good

  • Devhints is appreciated for its concise and well-organized cheat sheets that cover a wide range of programming languages and tools. It provides quick references for syntax and commands, making it a useful resource for developers who need to recall information quickly without going through extensive documentation.

Recommended for

  • Developers who regularly switch between multiple programming languages.
  • Beginner programmers looking to reinforce their understanding of syntax and commands.
  • Experienced developers who need a quick reference while coding.
  • Anyone looking for a centralized resource for software development cheat sheets.

SelfControl videos

How to block websites that distract you ? Selfcontrol [Mac App review and tutorial]

More videos:

  • Review - SelfControl Review - Block distracting websites

Devhints videos

No Devhints videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to SelfControl and Devhints)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
72 72%
28% 28
Time Management
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, SelfControl should be more popular than Devhints. It has been mentiond 79 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

SelfControl mentions (79)

  • Oregon School Cell Phone Ban: 'Engaged Students, Joyful Teachers'
    A combination of https://selfcontrolapp.com/ and Hammerspoon automation and you can lock yourself out of pretty much everything. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Kiki โ€“ The accountability monster for people who are easily distracted
    Happy to see it still exists, and free https://selfcontrolapp.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • How do you fight YouTube addiction and procrastination? I'm struggling with it
    I have found that a useful method for getting distractions off my work laptop has been https://selfcontrolapp.com/ (if you're on mac). - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Using an $8 smart outlet to avoid brainrot
    Pro tip for macos/ios folks: - Macos: Install https://selfcontrolapp.com/, add every website and their alternatives you know, set it to 24 hours. Really hard to bypass this even if you know networking stuff - iOS: Enable downtime 24/7 ask someone else to set the password. I'm down to about 35 minutes a day of mobile usage, and laptop usage is only work related things. You really need two or three days to clear... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • My 30-Year Quitting Addiction
    There is a free and open source app called SelfControl for macOS. It allows one to block access to any site one adds to the list in the app for the amount of time the user chooses. Attempt to use multiple browsers, restarting one's machine, deleting the app, etc. won't get around the block either. It's been super helpful for me, so I thought I'd just throw it out there. https://selfcontrolapp.com. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
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Devhints mentions (18)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing SelfControl and Devhints, you can also consider the following products

Cold Turkey - Cold Turkey is a free productivity program that you can use to temporarily block distractions so that you can get your work done!

DevDocs - Open source API documentation browser with instant fuzzy search, offline mode, keyboard shortcuts, and more

Freedom.to - Freedom is a productivity hack that lets you block apps, websites or the entire Internet on iPhones, iPads, Windows and Mac computers.

Docusaurus - Easy to maintain open source documentation websites

FocusMe - The website blocker you can't cheat

Hey Meta - Quickly check, improve and generate your website's meta tags