Poua! – Your Pomodoro Buddy & Minimal Desktop Timer news & patch notes

New Features

Level System Added

• A Level System has been introduced, which increases based on your focus time.

• You can now check your own level and other users' levels on the leaderboard.

Overtime Mode Added

• Overtime Mode is applied when the 'Auto Start' setting is toggled 'OFF'.

• After the timer ends, the additional time you spend focusing until you switch to rest will be recorded.

Timer Presets Added

• Added a Preset feature that allows you to save your most frequently used focus and rest time combinations. (An idea by Swansonhart.)

New Achievements Added

• Attendance Achievements have been added. (Up to 14 days) (An idea by TrapShark.)

• Total focus time achievements have been expanded from 100 hours to 1,000 hours. (An idea by TrapShark.)

Developer's Note

In this update, we have added the Level System and several convenience features that many of you have been requesting. A special thanks to Swansonhart and TrapShark for providing the inspiration for the presets and expanded achievements.

Thanks to the feedback from our community, Poua is growing into a better tool with every update. We hope Poua continues to be a reliable companion on your journey of focus. Thank you always!

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

Portuguese Language Added

• Portuguese has been added. A huge thank you to chucky515 for the local translation work.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Fixed a bug where synchronization between devices was not working properly.

Developer's Note

In this update, Portuguese (Brazil) has been added. Thank you again to chucky515 for helping with the translation. It feels like the community is coming together to make the program even better. Thank you always. We will continue to improve Poua!

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

Spanish Language Added

• Spanish has been added. A huge thank you to JoselinkRedLion for the local translation work.

Quick Timer Start

• Added a setting that allows you to start the timer directly by clicking the goal button in the To-Do list when the timer is not running. This helps maintain your focus flow without interruption. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• The game will now remember and load the last worn hat. The original intention was for users to change hats daily, but since it wasn't intuitive, we changed it to load the last worn hat. (Thank you, JoselinkRedLion!)

Developer's Note

In this update, Spanish has been added. Thank you again to JoselinkRedLion for helping with the translation. Also, thanks to Swansonhart's suggestion, it's now easier to maintain focus by starting the timer directly from the To-Do list. Thank you always for your diverse feedback. We will continue to improve Poua!

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

You can now create sub-tasks in the To-Do list. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

• Use Tab to indent tasks in the To-Do list.

• Use Shift + Tab to outdent tasks in the To-Do list.

Bug Fixes & Improvements

• Unified the leaderboard time format to hours instead of days when exceeding 24 hours. (Thank you, TrapShark!)

• Adjusted color saturation. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

• Added 2 more colors. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

Developer's Note

As mentioned last time, sub-tasks have been added. Dividing big tasks into smaller units will make your work much easier!

Also, some users have provided feedback that they have nowhere to spend coins after unlocking all the hats. We need a new way to utilize coins! what do you think would be good? Please feel free to leave your suggestions!

Filling Burrito Studio

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where tasks could not be created using the "Ctrl + Enter" shortcut in the to-do list. (Reported by Swansonhart, thank you!)

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

More Convenient To-Do List

• You can now directly create a new task in the To-Do list using ctrl + enter. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

• You can easily change the order of tasks in the To-Do list using alt + up/down. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

• Added undo / redo buttons to prevent accidental clicks.

More Colors Added

• Added 7 new colors. Enjoy a wider variety of colors. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the transparency value was not remembered when restarting the To-Do list. (Thank you, Swansonhart!)

Developer's Note

This update was developed based on requests from Swansonhart. Please feel free to request any features or changes you'd like to see in Poua at any time. Steam Discussions or Discord, either is fine.

To give you a sneak peek at the next update, sub-tasks in the To-Do list are currently under development. The sorting feature is also almost complete. Also, expressing total focus time in hours doesn't always feel very impactful. So, as a small addition, a Level system will be implemented. Please enjoy!

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

Click-Through for Transparent Areas

You can now click through the transparent parts of Poua to interact with windows or icons behind it.

• Implemented click-through for transparent regions

• Interact with your desktop or other apps seamlessly even while Poua is active

Developer's Note

I have finally implemented a long-requested feature. I've addressed the issue where transparent areas were still blocking clicks, which I know caused some inconvenience.

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

Global Weekly Leaderboard

A weekly leaderboard has been added to include all Poua users worldwide, not just friends.

• Weekly leaderboard for all global users

• Privacy Setting: If you prefer not to share your records, you can disable visibility in the settings.

Sessions Remaining Until Long Break

You can now check how many focus sessions are left before your next long break.

• Toggle display by clicking the "Completed Sessions" button

• This feature was suggested by HeadUnknown. Thank you!

Added Facial Expressions to Poua

Poua now has facial expressions.

• Visual updates to make the experience slightly more engaging.

Developer's Note

This is the first major update of 2026. This version focuses on providing a sense of community even when working alone, along with practical improvements for session management.

The Global Leaderboard is designed for solidarity, not just competition. It serves as a reminder that others are focusing with you, even from across the world. A privacy option is available for those who prefer not to share their focus data.

The new expressions for Poua are a small addition intended to add a bit of character to your focus routine. I hope you continue to maintain your flow with Poua throughout this year.

Filling Burrito Studio

Fixes

• Fixed an issue where the caret position shifted while writing the Main Goal, preventing smooth text entry. (Reported by 3stadt, thank you!)

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

A Todo List directly connected to your focus session has been added.

• Instantly convert a Todo item into the current focus session goal

• Completion check

• Change item order

• Dark mode toggle

More hats have been added. Record your mood for each day and time with a hat. Additional hats were drawn by Mrs.Takoyaki. Thank you.

Fixes

• Updated some icons.

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

• Added the ability to view last week's and last month's records in the leaderboard.

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

Steam Friends Only Leaderboard

A leaderboard visible only to your Steam friends has been added. You can now casually compare how much you have focused with your friends. The intention is not competition, but to build a shared sense of consistency.

• Steam friends only leaderboard

• Automatically sorted by focus time

This feature was implemented based on a request from milchreisgourmet.

Notice

If your Steam game or profile is set to private, the leaderboard may not display correctly.

Developer's Note

This update expands Poua toward being something you can use together with friends. Focusing is something you can do alone, but maintaining consistency is easier when someone is around. The leaderboard is a tool for checking each other's flow rather than competing.

Seeing your friends accumulate their daily focus time often nudges you back into your own rhythm. To avoid adding unnecessary weight, this feature was implemented lightly so it fits naturally within Poua.

If it is difficult to find friends offline, I will add a dedicated channel in the Discord server where you can find others to connect with. You can meet new friends there and make use of the leaderboard.

If you have ideas or needs, feel free to let me know.

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

• Added a delete button to Notes, requiring two presses to confirm deletion.

• Added text size adjustment for Note, available in Settings > Graphics.

Fixes

• Improved the smoothness of window dragging for Note.

Filling Burrito Studio

New Features

Multiple Goal Phrases System

Previously, you could only set one goal, but now you can register up to 10 additional phrases.

• The primary goal phrase always appears when starting a focus session.

• Additional phrases are optional and appear randomly after the primary goal.

• You can register up to 10 additional phrases.

This feature was suggested by adub_212. Finally made it happen, thank you!

Weekly Stats Average Comparison

• You can now compare each day's data with the average in weekly statistics.

Implemented milchreisgourmet's request. Thank you!

Fixes

• Fixed icon distortion in Note at small resolutions.

• Improved Note open/close animations.

Developer's Note

This update focuses on two features that many users have consistently requested. The multi goal dialogue system was something I approached carefully, but keeping the main goal as the anchor and letting additional lines be optional and shown at random turned out to be the most natural fit for Poua. It is meant to stay light to use while avoiding anything that disrupts focus.

The weekly statistics comparison was another request. I added an average comparison option and made it toggleable so you can turn it on only when you want it. It is simple, but it helps you understand your weekly patterns more clearly.

Since launch, Poua has improved step by step through user feedback. About six pieces of feedback from the demo period until now have already been incorporated. If you have ideas you want to see added or if you find any issues, feel free to send them. Poua is still not widely known, but the number of concurrent users keeps rising. Let's continue building it together. Filling Burrito Studio

Someone has already achieved 100 hours of focus. That's truly impressive. They've been consistently focusing about 5-6 hours a day with Poua! I don't know who they are, but it's made my day :)

How are you enjoying the app? If you have any suggestions for improvement, please feel free to leave feedback anytime. I'll make sure to implement it.

Fixes

• When pressing Enter on a list item with children, a new item is now inserted at the child level instead of the same level

New Features

Added a Note feature to quickly jot down thoughts that come to mind while focusing.

• Always on Top

• Adjustable transparency

• Markdown Edit / View mode

• Outliner-style list

• Logical indentation

• Change order with Alt + ↑/↓

• Dark mode support

• Auto-save

• Remembers window position and size

Disable Steam Overlay for smoother use: Turn it off under Library → right-click Poua → Properties → General.

Fixes

• Adjusted the overall program layout. (You can now adjust the time in the timer window.)

• Added screen scaling options: 75%, 250%. You can adjust for comfortable viewing in various environments. (This is Avery’s idea. Thank you!)

Developer's Note

"Man is an animal that uses tools."

Like the term "Homo faber," the tools we use influence our way of thinking.

This Note feature started from that idea. We wanted to create not just a window for jotting down memos, but a tool for structuring and developing thoughts.

That's why we added Markdown support and outliner-style lists to help capture a logical flow of thought.

Although we've gone through much testing, there may still be unexpected bugs. If you find any, please let us know anytime on Discord or the Steam forums.

We will continue to develop this into a better tool. Filling Burrito Studio

Changes

• You can now see your total sessions completed today directly on the timer. (Idea by milchreisgourmet)

Fixes

• The LED animation is now calmer and smoother.

• Improved data refresh logic for transitions past midnight.

Dev Notes

The idea to show today's completed sessions right on the timer came from milchreisgourmet on Discord. Great suggestion. I honestly wonder why I didn't think of it earlier. It's now implemented.

If you'd like to shape Poua too, join the Discord and chat with me. Many of your ideas could become part of the app.

Anyway, I've also received feedback asking for a feature to compare past and current records at a glance. I'm working on it. But since Poua has limited screen space, finding a meaningful way to show that is tricky. Any design ideas are welcome.

P.S. While browsing through Steam screenshots, I came across something funny and thought I'd share it. (Shared with the original poster's permission.)

The official Poua! Discord server is now open. Join us to talk about the Pomodoro timer, share focus tips, report bugs, or suggest features.

Check out the Welcome channel first to read the rules and get started. I'm excited to build a focused and friendly community together. Go to Discord

Filling Burrito Studio

Fix

• Fixed an issue where focus time was not saved correctly by the minute in certain environments.

• Fixed a bug where focus time after midnight did not properly reflect the logical start time.

Track and share how focused you were throughout your day at a glance. Your focus patterns are visualized as emoji graphs, allowing you to intuitively understand your productivity rhythm. The completed graph can be copied with a single click and shared immediately anywhere (X, Discord, Bluesky, and more). Compare your daily focus records with friends or use it to document your achievements.

Key Features

• Daily focus time represented as emoji blocks

• Color-coded by focus intensity

• Default time range: 8 AM to 2 AM next day (18 hours)

• Freely adjustable time range

• One-click "Copy" button to clipboard

Data Information

This update improves how focus data is stored. Records before this update are displayed aggregated by hour, while data from this update onward will be collected with minute-level precision.

Improvements

• Gacha button LED effect is now more subtle

• Fixed an issue where color and eye customization settings were being reset

Hello, players.

First and foremost, I sincerely thank you for playing the demo version and showing interest in my game.

I have an important announcement to share before the official release. Save data from the demo version will not carry over to the full release. The reasons for this decision are as follows:

Reasons for Data Separation

• Game Balance Improvements: I have fixed currency system vulnerabilities discovered in the demo to provide a more balanced gameplay experience

• Hat Gacha System Adjustments: Based on player feedback, I have reset the cost for obtaining hats

• Focus Time Tracking System Enhancement: I have refined the focus collection period tracking to strengthen the statistics features

While all these changes are aimed at delivering a better gaming experience, compatibility issues with demo data have made it necessary to separate the data.

I sincerely apologize to players who have invested significant time in the demo version. I promise to reward you with improved systems and richer content in the full release.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to seeing you again at the official launch.

Filling Burrito Studio

There are countless productivity tools out there, yet our struggles with focus never really go away. From Pomodoro timers to GTD to Deep Work, I've tried different approaches, but truly immersing myself in work still feels difficult.

So I asked myself, how can I make the act of focusing a little more enjoyable and effective?

That question is where Poua began. I took a simple Pomodoro timer and added a touch of psychology.

Small Nudges Change Behavior: The Nudge Effect

There is a famous case from behavioral economics. At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, a tiny fly image was etched inside the men's urinals. This simple design trick reduced spillage outside the urinals by 80 percent. Without any strict rules, just a small change in design guided people's behavior in a positive direction. This shows how small "nudges" can bring about big changes.

The Feeling of Being Watched: The Watching-Eye Effect

Another fascinating psychological phenomenon is the "Watching-Eye Effect." A research team at Newcastle University in the UK conducted an experiment at an honor-system coffee station. They compared what happened when a picture of human eyes was displayed versus when a picture of flowers was displayed. When eyes were present, contributions nearly tripled. The sense of being watched made people act more honestly and responsibly.

The key here is that it does not need to be an actual person. Even just an image of eyes is enough to trigger the effect. You can see this applied in Korea as well, where large trucks often have eye-shaped stickers on their rear panels. Drivers and pedestrians in blind spots become subconsciously more cautious when they notice the eyes.

Poua: A Pomodoro Timer That Watches You

Poua applies these ideas of "nudging" and the "Watching-Eye Effect" by giving a Pomodoro timer a pair of eyes.

Every time you move your mouse, Poua's eyes follow your cursor.

This small interaction sends a subtle signal to your brain that "you are being watched. " gently nudging you to stay focused. Like the fly in the urinal, it naturally reduces distracting behaviors.

But honestly, isn't it also just funny and cute? I'm developing Poua right now with Poua itself keeping me company, and I can't wait to share it with you. A free demo will be available very soon.

Add it to your Steam wishlist now and be the first to get the news when the free demo is released!

source

• commons.wikimedia.org

• blog.naver.com/kingcar-wash1/

• Newcastle University