Over The Hill - Release Notes

Version 0.0.1

Release Date: 20JUN2025
Platforms: Linux (AppImage)

🎉 What’s New

Over The Hill is a powerful Hill Chart Generator inspired by 37signals’ project management methodology. This release brings you a complete solution for visualizing project progress with both web and desktop applications.

✨ Key Features

🎯 Hill Chart Visualization

  • Interactive Hill Chart: Visualize project progress using the proven 37signals methodology
  • Two-Phase Tracking:
    • Up the Hill (Left Side): Discovery, research, and problem-solving phase
    • Down the Hill (Right Side): Clear path, active implementation phase
  • Drag & Drop Interface: Intuitive positioning of tasks on the hill

📊 Task Management

  • Customizable Dots: Each dot represents a task, feature, or project item
  • Rich Customization:
    • Colors: Blue, green, red, orange, purple
    • Sizes: 5 different size options (1-5) for visual hierarchy
    • Labels: Custom names for each task
  • Real-time Updates: Instant visual feedback as you move tasks

📁 Collection Management

  • Multiple Collections: Organize tasks into different projects or categories
  • Collection Switching: Seamlessly switch between different project contexts
  • Collection Naming: Custom names for better organization
  • Collection Visibility: Option to hide collection names in exports

📸 Snapshot System

  • Daily Snapshots: Save the state of your hill chart for any date
  • Calendar Interface: Visual calendar showing days with saved snapshots
  • Snapshot Recovery: Load any previous snapshot to see historical progress
  • Progress Tracking: Monitor how your projects evolve over time

🎨 Export & Sharing

  • Multiple Export Formats:
    • PNG Export: High-quality raster images for presentations
    • SVG Export: Scalable vector graphics for documents
  • Clipboard Integration: Copy charts directly to clipboard in PNG or SVG format
  • Download Options: Save charts as files with timestamped filenames
  • Export Settings: Choose between PNG and SVG for clipboard operations

🌙 Theme Support

  • Light Theme: Clean, bright interface for daytime use
  • Dark Theme: Easy on the eyes for evening work
  • System Theme: Automatically follows your operating system preference
  • Theme Persistence: Remembers your theme preference

💾 Data Management

  • Import/Export: Full data portability with JSON format
  • Backup & Restore: Export all collections and snapshots
  • Legacy Support: Import data from previous versions
  • Data Validation: Robust error handling for corrupted files

🖥️ Desktop Application Features

Cross-Platform Support

  • Windows: Native Windows application with installer
  • macOS: Universal binary supporting Intel and Apple Silicon
  • Linux: AppImage format for easy distribution

Enhanced Desktop Capabilities

  • Secure Local Storage: Data stored securely using Electron’s built-in storage
  • Native File Operations: Direct file save/load without browser limitations
  • Offline Functionality: Works completely offline
  • Native Clipboard Integration: Superior clipboard support for copying charts
  • System Integration: Install as a native application (Linux)

Linux-Specific Features

  • AppImage Distribution: Portable, self-contained application
  • System Installation: One-click installation to system menu
  • GTK Compatibility: Optimized for mixed GTK2/3/4 environments
  • Multiple Launch Methods: 5 different ways to run the application
  • Comprehensive Troubleshooting: Detailed solutions for common Linux issues

🚀 Getting Started

Web Version

Visit https://over-the-hill.vercel.app/ to start using the web version immediately.

Desktop Installation

Building from Source

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Build for your platform
pnpm run dist

# Build for all platforms
pnpm run dist-all

Linux AppImage

Download the AppImage and Install on your system from there

System Installation (Linux)

The desktop app includes a built-in installer that:

  • Copies the AppImage to ~/.local/bin/over-the-hill/
  • Creates a desktop entry in ~/.local/share/applications/
  • Makes the app available in your system menu

🔧 Technical Details

Technology Stack

  • Frontend: Next.js 15, React 19, TypeScript
  • UI Components: Radix UI, Tailwind CSS
  • Desktop: Electron 32.2.7
  • Build System: Electron Builder
  • Deployment: Vercel (Web)

Storage

  • Web: LocalStorage for data persistence
  • Desktop: Electron’s secure storage system
  • Cross-Platform: Automatic data migration between platforms

Performance

  • Optimized Rendering: High-quality exports with 3x scaling
  • Memory Efficient: Minimal resource usage
  • Fast Loading: Instant startup and data loading

🐛 Known Issues & Solutions

Installation Issues

  • Ensure you have write permissions to ~/.local/bin/
  • Some distributions may require additional GTK libraries
  • AppImage may need to be marked as executable: chmod +x Over-The-Hill-1.0.0.AppImage

🙏 Acknowledgments

  • 37signals: For the original Hill Chart methodology
  • Vercel: For the excellent deployment platform
  • v0.dev: For the initial project structure
  • Electron Team: For the robust desktop framework
  • Open Source Community: For the amazing tools and libraries

📞 Support

  • Web Demo: https://over-the-hill.vercel.app/
  • Documentation: See README.md for detailed usage instructions
  • Issues: Report bugs and feature requests through the project repository

Made with ❤️ by Gregoire Faurobert

Inspired by 37signals’ Shape Up methodology