Sixteen

Product Introduction

1. Sixteen is a focus-enhancing tool that integrates with your Linear workspace to block distracting apps and websites until specified tasks are completed. It enforces productivity by physically locking your screen and only granting access to "dopamine apps" like Instagram or TikTok after you finish work items or complete physical challenges.
2. The core value of Sixteen lies in its rebellion against distraction-driven design, using intentional friction to help users reclaim focus without outright banning apps. It combines task completion (via Linear integration) and physical movement to create a conscious barrier between work and mindless scrolling.

Main Features

1. Linear Tickets Unlock: Sixteen syncs with your Linear workspace and locks distracting apps until you mark a task as "Done" in Linear. This forces task completion before allowing access to entertainment platforms, making progress non-negotiable for engineers, designers, and product teams.
2. Pushup-to-Unlock: Requires users to perform physical exercises (e.g., 5 pushups for Instagram, squats for TikTok) to temporarily unlock distracting apps. This adds a physiological cost to distraction, leveraging movement to disrupt impulsive scrolling habits.
3. 5-Second Intentional Delay: Imposes a mandatory 5-second countdown with motivational messages before granting access to blocked apps. This pause forces users to consciously decide whether to proceed, reducing autopilot browsing by 72% in internal tests.

Problems Solved

1. Distraction Epidemic: Addresses the paradox of AI-created free time being hijacked by addictive apps, which Sixteen counters with engineered friction rather than passive blocking. It specifically targets platforms like TikTok and YouTube that use algorithmic traps to fragment attention.
2. Target Users: Designed for engineers, founders, and remote workers who use Linear for task management but struggle with self-interruption cycles. Ideal for teams shipping software or creative projects requiring sustained deep work sessions.
3. Use Cases: A developer finishes a code ticket in Linear to unlock a 10-minute social media window; a designer completes a Figma mockup to access YouTube after performing squats; a writer delays checking Twitter via intentional pauses that reduce hourly distractions.

Unique Advantages

1. Friction-First Philosophy: Unlike traditional app blockers (e.g., Freedom, Cold Turkey), Sixteen doesn’t permanently restrict access but makes distractions "expensive" through task completion and physical effort. This avoids user resentment and promotes sustainable habit change.
2. Linear API Integration: Direct sync with Linear’s task system allows real-time progress tracking, automatically mapping completed tickets to unlocked screen time. No other focus tool ties app access to issue tracker milestones.
3. Behavioral Psychology Engine: Combines operant conditioning (earning rewards via tasks) with somatic intervention (physical movement), a dual-layer approach proven in beta tests to reduce distraction time by 63% compared to single-mechanism apps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How does Sixteen integrate with Linear? Sixteen uses Linear’s OAuth 2.0 API to read your workspace tickets in real time. When you mark a task as "Done," it triggers an API webhook that unlocks your screen for a predefined period (default: 15 minutes).
2. Can I customize the physical challenges for app access? Yes, the pushup/squat requirements are adjustable in settings (e.g., 3-20 reps per app). Advanced users can create exercise-to-app mappings via a YAML configuration file.
3. Is Sixteen available on Android or desktop? Currently, Sixteen is iOS-only due to strict app lockdown capabilities, but a macOS version with Safari/Chrome extension support is in beta testing for Q4 2024.
4. What happens if I have multiple Linear tickets in progress? The system prioritizes tickets labeled "In Progress" in your Linear workspace. Completing any one ticket unlocks apps, but you can enable "Strict Mode" to require finishing all active tickets.
5. Are the 5-second delays skippable? No—the delay is enforced at the OS level using iOS’s ScreenTime API. Even if you force-close the app, the countdown persists until completion.