"Did I genuinely do what I said I would do, for as long as I said I would?"
HIA (Hold Idiot Accountable) is a minimalist, trust-minimized accountability system I built for myself to enforce focus by eliminating any easy way to bypass my own restrictions.
This specific repository contains the Next.js mobile app I've designed for my friend (the accountability partner) to keep tabs on my session status and any transgressions in real-time. HIA moves beyond local browser extensions, leveraging network-level domain blocking and passive monitoring to reflect the quiet truth of my productivity without judgment.
Whenever I get bored, I have a tendency to visit distracting sites like YouTube or X purely on impulse.
- Browser extensions didn't suffice—they're too easy to disable and only work in one place.
- Local blocks are trivial to bypass with a simple toggle or by switching devices.
- Self-reporting is unreliable; I needed a system that doesn't rely on my own honesty in the moment.
I block distractions at the network level using my Pi-hole directly via Tailscale. This ensures that all my devices—including my phone—cannot access the blocked websites. The system is built on a "Zero Trust" posture: my focus is server-validated, and any tampering is logged and reported to my friend.
The system is distributed across a Next.js web app, a Convex backend (local + cloud sync), and my homelab.
I start my sessions via a web app.
- I set my subject and duration.
- This makes a request to an n8n webhook, which SSHs into my homelab to execute my Pi-hole blocklist script.
- A record of the session is created in my server's
studySessionstable.
A script runs periodically (every 30s) on my homelab to ensure I'm staying honest:
- Blocklist Integrity: It creates a hash of the Pi-hole blocklist. If the hash changes (meaning I tried to unblock a site), it calls an n8n webhook.
- Transgression Logging: If I remove distracting sites during a session, the app logs the transgression to the database and alerts my friend.
- The Heartbeat: The script pings my app every time it executes.
I run a standalone worker.ts process alongside the web server:
- It monitors the Heartbeat timestamp in Convex.
- If it misses even a single heartbeat (detected after 33 seconds) while a session is active, it logs a
MISSED_HEARTBEATevent. - It also manages Local-Cloud Sync: Every 5 minutes, it reconciles the local Convex backend with a persistent Convex Cloud backup.
- Frontend: Next.js (App Router) with a "Calm" aesthetic (Tailwind CSS).
- Backend: Convex (Self-hosted local + Cloud backup) for append-only audit logs and session state.
- Worker: Standalone TypeScript process for heartbeat monitoring and sync reconciliation.
- Infrastructure: n8n (automation), Pi-hole (DNS blocking), Tailscale (network tunneling), Docker (deployment).
I've built HIA around a few core design principles and a strict backend philosophy:
- Calm Truth: The UI reports facts; it doesn't scold or try to "motivate" me. It's a black box recorder for my focus.
- Mirror, Not Coach: The app reflects reality. If I walk away, it records the gap. It's a mirror, not a nag.
- Server Authority: My server is the final arbiter of session completion, status, and severity.
/app: Next.js frontend and API routes./convex: Convex schema and server functions./lib/backend: Core logic for event derivation and Convex integration.worker.ts: Heartbeat monitoring watchdog and sync manager.
- Start: I set my duration → n8n triggers my Pi-hole blocklist → My server starts the session.
- Monitor: My homelab script pings the server and checks my blocklist every 30s.
- Validate: The HIA Worker checks for those pings. If they stop, it logs a breach.
- Sync: The Worker periodically ensures local data is backed up to Convex Cloud.
- End: My session expires → n8n removes the blocks → My server archives the session.
- Reflect: The AI generates a factual summary of the logs for me to review afterward.