# Curbox

> Curbox is an open-source Android app for reducing screentime and building healthier digital habits. It blocks or slows down distracting apps, short-form video (Reels/Shorts), and websites using Android's Accessibility Service. Curbox is open source under the GPL v3, developed in the open with the complete source on GitHub so anyone can audit exactly what it does.

Curbox is organized into three areas: **Usage** (see where your time goes), **Focus** (timed deep-work sessions that block distractions), and **Reducers** (the toolbox of limits and nudges). Reducers split into *Focus Boundaries* that actively block (App Pause, Short-Form Video, Keyword/Website blocker) and *Mindful Nudges* that gently slow you down (Auto DND, UI Hider, Mindful Messages, Short-Form Video Counter, Grayscale Filter). When you hit a limit, Curbox shows a configurable "pause"/warning screen whose difficulty you control via Unlock Challenges.

- Platform: Android. License: GNU GPL v3. Source: https://github.com/nethical6/curbox
- Install: F-Droid (https://f-droid.org/) or official GitHub releases (https://github.com/nethical6/curbox/releases/latest)
- Open source: GPL v3, complete source on GitHub, no accounts — auditable by anyone.

## Getting Started

- [What Is Curbox](https://curbox.app/docs/getting-started/what-is-curbox/): Introduction to Curbox, its three areas (Usage, Focus, Reducers), how it uses the Accessibility Service to show a pause screen, and its open-source (GPL v3) model.
- [Set Up Curbox](https://curbox.app/docs/getting-started/setup/): Installation via F-Droid, why antivirus/Play Protect may false-flag a deep-control app, and how to grant the five permissions (Screen Overlay, Notifications, Do Not Disturb, App Blocker Accessibility, Usage Tracker Accessibility), optionally all at once via Shizuku.

## Focus

- [Focus Mode](https://curbox.app/docs/focus/focus-mode/): Start a timed session that blocks chosen apps and websites until the timer ends. Covers Focus Groups (saved app/website presets), block modes (Block Selected vs Block All Except Selected), quit-mid-session and auto-DND options, and Focus Stats (sessions, total time, average length, completion rate, day streak).

## Reducers

- [Reducers Overview](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/overview/): The full reducer toolbox, split into Focus Boundaries (active blocking) and Mindful Nudges (gentle friction), plus advice to start small with one app limit.
- [App Pause](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/app-pause/): Per-app limits with three modes — Usage Based (daily time cap), Time Based (allowed only inside a time window), and On Each Open (block every launch). Includes how to stack multiple groups on one app to build powerful combined rules (e.g. "only 6–9 PM, and only 1 hour").
- [Short-Form Video Content](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/short-form-video/): Block Reels/Shorts after a daily time limit or a video count, combined across Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels (plus community mod support).
- [Keywords and Websites](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/keyword-blocker/): Block websites by watching the browser address bar. Full keyword syntax — domains, paths, path-only matches, `*`/`?` wildcards, single-word domain matches, and raw `r:` regex — plus supported browsers and list import.
- [UI Hider (Hide UI Elements)](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/hide-ui-elements/): Hide distracting parts of apps (YouTube recommendations, Instagram feed, X "For You") while keeping the app usable. Ships ready-made rules and a full sandboxed scripting language for writing custom accessibility-driven overlays.
- [Auto DND](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/auto-dnd/): Automatically enable Do Not Disturb on a time schedule.
- [Mindful Messages (Gentle Prompts)](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/mindful-messages/): Overlay a personal reflection message on chosen apps, with live placeholders for today's app usage, total screen time, current session length, and reel count.
- [Short-Form Video Counter](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/video-counter/): Show a live on-screen count of how many Reels/Shorts you've scrolled today, with a weekly chart.
- [Grayscale Filter](https://curbox.app/docs/reducers/grayscale/): Turn the screen black-and-white in chosen apps to make them less compelling (requires the free Shizuku helper).

## Unlock Challenges

- [Unlock Challenges (Warning Screen)](https://curbox.app/docs/unlock-challenges/overview/): Decide what happens on the pause screen — Never Unlock, Require Effort (QR/barcode scan, type a sentence, state your intent), or Wait to Unlock (fixed/dynamic) — plus a vibrating delay timer, proceed limits, and custom messages.

## Usage

- [Usage Stats](https://curbox.app/docs/usage/usage-stats/): Read your screen-time data — daily total, weekly chart, per-app breakdown, per-browser website stats — and ignore noisy apps, export to CSV, or pin home-screen widgets.

## Optional

- [Full LLM corpus (llms-full.txt)](https://curbox.app/llms-full.txt): Every feature documented in depth in a single self-contained file, written for LLM ingestion.
- [About Curbox](https://curbox.app/about.html): The open-source mission and philosophy behind the project.
- [Features](https://curbox.app/features.html): Full breakdown of blocking, schedules, unlock challenges, focus mode, and insights.
- [Install Curbox](https://curbox.app/install-android/): How to get Curbox on Android via F-Droid or GitHub releases.
- [Donate](https://curbox.app/donate.html): Support the project via Patreon, GitHub Sponsors, PayPal, UPI, or crypto.
- [Contribute](https://github.com/nethical6/curbox): How to translate, report bugs, write code, or otherwise help.
- [Source code on GitHub](https://github.com/nethical6/curbox): The complete, auditable source (GNU GPL v3).