Application monitor

--script by Applehelpwriter 2013 / www.applehelpwriter.com
(*
this little script will keep track of which app is in use and for how long
it deposits and updates a .txt file on your desktop
you can open the file and watch it in real time or just use it to collect data for later

note the script is an endless loop; it won't quit till you quit it manually

to use it, paste into AS editor and hit 'run'; hit 'stop' when you've had enough
else set it up in launch agents or cron jobs
*)

set front_app to (path to frontmost application as text)
set _start to current date

repeat
    delay 5
    set current_app to (path to frontmost application as text)
    if current_app is not equal to front_app then
        set _stop to current date
        do shell script "echo " & front_app & " was active from " & _start & " until " & _stop & " >> ~/Desktop/log.txt"
        set front_app to current_app
        set _start to current date
    end if
end repeat