• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 06:59
CEST 12:59
KST 19:59
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 20257Power Rank - Esports World Cup 202576RSL Season 1 - Final Week9[ASL19] Finals Recap: Standing Tall15HomeStory Cup 27 - Info & Preview18
Community News
Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced22BSL Team Wars - Bonyth, Dewalt, Hawk & Sziky teams10Weekly Cups (July 14-20): Final Check-up0Esports World Cup 2025 - Brackets Revealed19Weekly Cups (July 7-13): Classic continues to roll8
StarCraft 2
General
Tournament Spotlight: FEL Cracow 2025 #1: Maru - Greatest Players of All Time I offer completely free coaching services Power Rank - Esports World Cup 2025 What tournaments are world championships?
Tourneys
FEL Cracov 2025 (July 27) - $10,000 live event Esports World Cup 2025 $25,000 Streamerzone StarCraft Pro Series announced $5,000 WardiTV Summer Championship 2025 WardiTV Mondays
Strategy
How did i lose this ZvP, whats the proper response
Custom Maps
External Content
Mutation #239 Bad Weather Mutation # 483 Kill Bot Wars Mutation # 482 Wheel of Misfortune Mutation # 481 Fear and Lava
Brood War
General
Google Play ASL (Season 20) Announced [Update] ShieldBattery: 2025 Redesign Dewalt's Show Matches in China BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ BW General Discussion
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [BSL20] Non-Korean Championship 4x BSL + 4x China CSL Xiamen International Invitational [CSLPRO] It's CSLAN Season! - Last Chance
Strategy
Simple Questions, Simple Answers [G] Mineral Boosting Does 1 second matter in StarCraft?
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Total Annihilation Server - TAForever [MMORPG] Tree of Savior (Successor of Ragnarok) Path of Exile
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread UK Politics Mega-thread Stop Killing Games - European Citizens Initiative Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread
Fan Clubs
INnoVation Fan Club SKT1 Classic Fan Club!
Media & Entertainment
[\m/] Heavy Metal Thread Anime Discussion Thread Movie Discussion! [Manga] One Piece Korean Music Discussion
Sports
2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 NBA General Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Installation of Windows 10 suck at "just a moment" Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
TeamLiquid Team Shirt On Sale The Automated Ban List
Blogs
Ping To Win? Pings And Their…
TrAiDoS
momentary artworks from des…
tankgirl
from making sc maps to makin…
Husyelt
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Socialism Anyone?
GreenHorizons
Eight Anniversary as a TL…
Mizenhauer
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 651 users

Introducing Desktop APM: APM for every application

Forum Index > SC2 General
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
achronism
Profile Joined September 2013
Australia6 Posts
December 12 2015 15:19 GMT
#1
Hi TeamLiquid,

After encountering APM in StarCraft: BW over 10 years ago, I've been fascinated by the concept of tracking performance in gaming. 3 years ago I decided I would bring actions-per-minute to every game and application by developing Desktop APM. After investing hundreds of hours, I'm happy to announce Desktop APM to the TeamLiquid community.

[image loading]

Desktop APM provides your true APM in StarCraft II and other games. Unlike in StarCraft II, APM is not reduced due to the accelerated in-game timer.

Take a tour of Desktop APM:
+ Show Spoiler +

[image loading]
Desktop APM provides a graph of how intensely you use your keyboard and mouse. Statistics show your highest APM, distance mouse moved, and total keypresses / mouse clicks.

[image loading]
The in-built calendar makes browsing previous days easy. Find out your gaming habits days, months, even years prior.

[image loading]
Hovering over a graph shows a preview of how your time was spent. Timeline provides a comprehensive list of applications used.

[image loading]
Browsing your timeline breaks down APM by application. Selecting multiple applications compares APM on the same graph.

[image loading]
Many features are waiting for you in Desktop APM. Hotspots show where you click the most, set daily targets, setup voice alerts and more.


Features:
  • graph your APM across minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years
  • browse a timeline of applications used throughout the day
  • use the calendar to find out what you were doing weeks, months or years prior
  • view hotspots on your monitor that highlight where you click the most
  • track words per minute, distance mouse moved and total time active
  • compare StarCraft APM to other games and find out which games are most APM intensive
  • enable voice alerts to notify you when APM falls below a certain number
  • set daily targets and strive to achieve your target APM

FAQ:

Is Desktop APM secure?
+ Show Spoiler +

  • Desktop APM data is encrypted and saved locally on your PC
  • Data generated by Desktop APM is never transmitted across the internet
  • For more information read the privacy statement.



Is Desktop APM free?
+ Show Spoiler +

  • Yes, Desktop APM is free
  • There is no kickstarter campaign or crowdfunding, Desktop APM is a fully realized product that is ready-to-use.
  • A professional version of Desktop APM unlocks advanced features.
  • Money raised from Desktop APM goes towards development and StarCraft II tournaments. See the rewards page for more information.



Who are you?
+ Show Spoiler +

  • the developer of Desktop APM and a programmer with over 16 years experience
  • an enthusiastic supporter of eSports who has been actively involved in the StarCraft community for many years
  • the founder of a small business called Little Sky Studios, providing software, games and 4k photography
  • someone looking to give back to the community by sponsoring tournaments and providing gaming-related content



Where can I get Desktop APM?
  • Click HERE to download Desktop APM
PinoKotsBeer
Profile Joined February 2014
Netherlands1385 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-12 15:24:19
December 12 2015 15:24 GMT
#2
Any plans for an OSX version?
http://www.twitch.tv/pinokotsbeer
Big J
Profile Joined March 2011
Austria16289 Posts
December 12 2015 15:27 GMT
#3
5 seconds in! It's awesome!
achronism
Profile Joined September 2013
Australia6 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-12 15:54:39
December 12 2015 15:37 GMT
#4
Any plans for an OSX version?


That would depend on the amount of support and interest in Desktop APM. The software is very reliant on Windows architecture (kernel32 provides keyboard/mouse inputs, the program uses windows calendars, listboxes and UI features that aren't interchangable), so it's not just matter of importing code, a lot of code would be rewritten from the ground up. There are still a lot of features to add to the PC version (achievements, skins and customisation), so rather than divide my attention across two platforms the immediate plan is to develop the PC version to its full potential. I know this answer may be disappointing to mac users, however I think with e-sports growing in popularity, it's only a matter of time before we get better game-tracking tools across both platforms.
sabas123
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Netherlands3122 Posts
December 12 2015 15:42 GMT
#5
On December 13 2015 00:37 achronism wrote:
Show nested quote +
Any plans for an OSX version?


That would depend on the amount of support and interest in Desktop APM. The software is very reliant on Windows architecture (kernel32 provides the inputs, the program uses windows calendars, listboxes and UI features that aren't interchangable), so it's not just matter of importing code, a lot of code would be rewritten from the ground up. There are still a lot of features to add to the PC version (achievements, skins and customisation), so rather than divide my attention across two platforms the immediate plan is to develop the PC version to its full potential. I know this answer may be disappointing to mac users, however I think with e-sports growing in popularity, it's only a matter of time before we get better game-tracking tools across both platforms.

achievements 0_O

the application seems cool
The harder it becomes, the more you should focus on the basics.
achronism
Profile Joined September 2013
Australia6 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-12 16:05:23
December 12 2015 16:03 GMT
#6
the application seems cool


Thanks, if you have any questions feel free to ask them here or through the Desktop APM contact form.

It's almost 3am where I'm from so it's time to rest, but I'll be back in 8 hours to answer any questions. Hope you enjoy the app!
Big J
Profile Joined March 2011
Austria16289 Posts
December 12 2015 16:32 GMT
#7
Loving the heat map! The SC2 map is already shaping in the bottom left of the screen, lol!
Cascade
Profile Blog Joined March 2006
Australia5405 Posts
December 12 2015 17:19 GMT
#8
Cool! Is it possible to get the heatmap by application, so that I only see sc2? Similarly, is it possible to track my APM over time by application?

There is no way to detect when a game starts right? So the sc2 apm will be an average over all time spent in sc2, including time in lobby, queue, etc? I'd like to track my APM in-game for sc2 over time, to see if I am faster now than 6 months ago, but maybe that isn't possible without looking at the replays like scelight etc.
TRaFFiC
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
Canada1448 Posts
December 12 2015 18:04 GMT
#9
Great now I can see how fast my apm is downloading porn.
2v2, 1v1, Zerg, Terran http://www.twitch.tv/trafficsc2
TelecoM
Profile Blog Joined January 2010
United States10673 Posts
December 12 2015 19:34 GMT
#10
Amazing, thank you for this contribution!
AKA: TelecoM[WHITE] Protoss fighting
NexT_SC2
Profile Joined May 2013
United States117 Posts
December 12 2015 19:47 GMT
#11
apm doing homework...5
Taeja | Maru | Byun <3
DSK
Profile Blog Joined February 2015
England1110 Posts
December 12 2015 21:02 GMT
#12
Hah, I love the idea behind this :D
**@ YT: SC2POVs at https://www.youtube.com/c/SC2POVsTV | https://liquipedia.net/starcraft2/SC2POVs @**
Mistakes
Profile Joined February 2011
United States1102 Posts
December 12 2015 21:09 GMT
#13
Wow that is really cool. Well done!
StarCraft | www.psistorm.com | www.twitter.com/MistakesSC | www.twitch.tv/MistakesSC | Seattle
achronism
Profile Joined September 2013
Australia6 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-13 00:59:08
December 13 2015 00:55 GMT
#14
Is it possible to get the heatmap by application, so that I only see sc2? Similarly, is it possible to track my APM over time by application?

You can do this by setting up rules that ignore other applications except StarCraft, then heatmaps and APM will only apply when the defined applications are in use. See THIS image on how to setup rules, which are found in the Timeline Menu -> Rules section.
There is no way to detect when a game starts right? So the sc2 apm will be an average over all time spent in sc2, including time in lobby, queue, etc? I'd like to track my APM in-game for sc2 over time, to see if I am faster now than 6 months ago, but maybe that isn't possible without looking at the replays like scelight etc.

You're right, although Desktop APM is still useful over time. For example, whether you play 5 games or 3 games, you'll average x amount minutes in the lobby every game, so your APM will be still be proportionally bigger or smaller based on your performance during the game, with a small reduction overall due to lobby time. As you begin to play hundreds of games, you'll spend an average of (for example) 16 minutes in a game, and an average of 2 minutes in the lobby, therefore lobby time only has a 12.5% influence on your APM, while how you perform during the game has an 87.5% influence on your APM.

Also, after a minute without clicks or mouse presses, Desktop APM stops tracking APM and classes that time as inactive, so that inactive time doesn't contribute to APM. So waiting in lobbies for games to start will only slightly reduce APM when you're clicking, typing or moving your mouse.
-Kyo-
Profile Blog Joined August 2010
Japan1926 Posts
December 13 2015 02:24 GMT
#15
Will this product be updated if there are changes that need to be made in the future?

This is awesome, and I went ahead and gave the 4$ for it !

Thanks!

Will perhaps updated with my own 2c on the actual program in a little~
Anime is cuter than you. Legacy of the Void GM Protoss Gameplay: twitch.tv/kyo7763 youtube.com/user/KyoStarcraft/
TL+ Member
Chaggi
Profile Joined August 2010
Korea (South)1936 Posts
December 13 2015 02:47 GMT
#16
Oh $4 for the pro? I'll do that once I get my paypal unlocked
Keniji
Profile Blog Joined April 2008
Netherlands2569 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-13 03:00:25
December 13 2015 02:57 GMT
#17
On December 13 2015 09:55 achronism wrote:
Show nested quote +
Is it possible to get the heatmap by application, so that I only see sc2? Similarly, is it possible to track my APM over time by application?

You can do this by setting up rules that ignore other applications except StarCraft, then heatmaps and APM will only apply when the defined applications are in use. See THIS image on how to setup rules, which are found in the Timeline Menu -> Rules section.
Show nested quote +
There is no way to detect when a game starts right? So the sc2 apm will be an average over all time spent in sc2, including time in lobby, queue, etc? I'd like to track my APM in-game for sc2 over time, to see if I am faster now than 6 months ago, but maybe that isn't possible without looking at the replays like scelight etc.

You're right, although Desktop APM is still useful over time. For example, whether you play 5 games or 3 games, you'll average x amount minutes in the lobby every game, so your APM will be still be proportionally bigger or smaller based on your performance during the game, with a small reduction overall due to lobby time. As you begin to play hundreds of games, you'll spend an average of (for example) 16 minutes in a game, and an average of 2 minutes in the lobby, therefore lobby time only has a 12.5% influence on your APM, while how you perform during the game has an 87.5% influence on your APM.

Also, after a minute without clicks or mouse presses, Desktop APM stops tracking APM and classes that time as inactive, so that inactive time doesn't contribute to APM. So waiting in lobbies for games to start will only slightly reduce APM when you're clicking, typing or moving your mouse.


Would it be possible to implement an option to set something like key-frames (via hotkey)? Thus, you could set them at the beginning and end of a game. If you could then apply keywords or such to said frames you could also sort and order them. This way, you are not limited to apps, but could also divide by different events in apps themselves.

Obviously, it wouldn't not be as nice to use because it does not track everything automatically, but it is only an extra option for people that want it. And if people were crazy enough (and they usually are), they could probably write some sort of plug-in to automate the process by searching for some pixels or stuff to indicate the start and end of a game.

I am not much into programming, so I do not know how difficult something like that would be. Or if you are willing to spent even more time on it. But to for my personal preference, it would improve the already nice program quite a bit



Cascade
Profile Blog Joined March 2006
Australia5405 Posts
December 13 2015 03:15 GMT
#18
On December 13 2015 09:55 achronism wrote:
Show nested quote +
Is it possible to get the heatmap by application, so that I only see sc2? Similarly, is it possible to track my APM over time by application?

You can do this by setting up rules that ignore other applications except StarCraft, then heatmaps and APM will only apply when the defined applications are in use. See THIS image on how to setup rules, which are found in the Timeline Menu -> Rules section.
Show nested quote +
There is no way to detect when a game starts right? So the sc2 apm will be an average over all time spent in sc2, including time in lobby, queue, etc? I'd like to track my APM in-game for sc2 over time, to see if I am faster now than 6 months ago, but maybe that isn't possible without looking at the replays like scelight etc.

You're right, although Desktop APM is still useful over time. For example, whether you play 5 games or 3 games, you'll average x amount minutes in the lobby every game, so your APM will be still be proportionally bigger or smaller based on your performance during the game, with a small reduction overall due to lobby time. As you begin to play hundreds of games, you'll spend an average of (for example) 16 minutes in a game, and an average of 2 minutes in the lobby, therefore lobby time only has a 12.5% influence on your APM, while how you perform during the game has an 87.5% influence on your APM.

Also, after a minute without clicks or mouse presses, Desktop APM stops tracking APM and classes that time as inactive, so that inactive time doesn't contribute to APM. So waiting in lobbies for games to start will only slightly reduce APM when you're clicking, typing or moving your mouse.

OK, thanks.

Don't think the average is very reliable though. So much variance from a lot of stuff, and you really would like to be able to pick up a 10% difference in APM, preferably even smaller. Don't think you can do that on a months worth of data for most players.
ThunderBum
Profile Joined November 2010
Australia192 Posts
December 13 2015 05:13 GMT
#19
Very nice indeed, thank you for sharing your work
achronism
Profile Joined September 2013
Australia6 Posts
Last Edited: 2015-12-13 06:19:52
December 13 2015 06:00 GMT
#20
Would it be possible to implement an option to set something like key-frames (via hotkey)? Thus, you could set them at the beginning and end of a game. If you could then apply keywords or such to said frames you could also sort and order them. This way, you are not limited to apps, but could also divide by different events in apps themselves.

This is a great line of thinking. In general I'm looking to setup up a custom key combination for pausing and resuming Desktop APM, so for example you can press 'control-shift-p' in game and the program will play an "APM paused/APM resumed" sound, that way you can pause tracking between games without having to toggle out of StarCraft.
Obviously, it wouldn't not be as nice to use because it does not track everything automatically, but it is only an extra option for people that want it. And if people were crazy enough (and they usually are), they could probably write some sort of plug-in to automate the process by searching for some pixels or stuff to indicate the start and end of a game.

Your suggestion is also highly possible. I could capture key information such the color of the StarCraft HUD at certain pixels, but it's hard to apply this consistently across many games. Games often get graphic interface updates that would temporarily break the feature in Desktop APM until a patch is released, and every game has to be analysed carefully to implement such a feature. The easiest way I feel would be to provide an APM threshold, such as 'do not track when APM goes below 20', this way, you would only get gameplay data, rather than periods of using menus and waiting in the lobby. Actually, the more I think about it, it's quite easy to implement and I'll add it to the list of features coming in the next patch.
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
FEL
09:00
Cracow 2025
Spirit vs GeraldLIVE!
Clem vs Krystianer
uThermal vs SKillous
Reynor vs MaNa
Lambo vs TBD
ComeBackTV 1093
RotterdaM1010
IndyStarCraft 447
CranKy Ducklings150
Rex132
3DClanTV 113
LiquipediaDiscussion
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
RotterdaM 992
IndyStarCraft 447
Rex 132
ProTech56
StarCraft: Brood War
Horang2 9881
Hyuk 3634
Hyun 986
Barracks 727
firebathero 677
Mini 594
BeSt 552
Larva 475
EffOrt 342
Stork 266
[ Show more ]
Last 142
Noble 119
sorry 98
ZerO 81
Soulkey 79
Free 50
zelot 45
scan(afreeca) 31
soO 27
Sharp 24
Shinee 24
sSak 16
Rush 15
NaDa 15
Sacsri 15
Movie 14
ajuk12(nOOB) 13
yabsab 11
Bale 6
Dota 2
XcaliburYe567
Counter-Strike
Stewie2K465
Heroes of the Storm
Khaldor295
Other Games
gofns10460
Beastyqt587
B2W.Neo429
DeMusliM118
SortOf75
ZerO(Twitch)15
QueenE14
Organizations
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 14 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH330
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• C_a_k_e 3293
• WagamamaTV396
• lizZardDota2262
Upcoming Events
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
3h 1m
BSL20 Non-Korean Champi…
7h 1m
Bonyth vs Zhanhun
Dewalt vs Mihu
Hawk vs Sziky
Sziky vs QiaoGege
Mihu vs Hawk
Zhanhun vs Dewalt
Fengzi vs Bonyth
Sparkling Tuna Cup
1d 23h
WardiTV European League
2 days
Online Event
2 days
uThermal 2v2 Circuit
3 days
The PondCast
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Korean StarCraft League
5 days
CranKy Ducklings
5 days
[ Show More ]
Sparkling Tuna Cup
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
Esports World Cup 2025
Murky Cup #2

Ongoing

Copa Latinoamericana 4
Jiahua Invitational
BSL 20 Non-Korean Championship
BSL 20 Team Wars
FEL Cracov 2025
CC Div. A S7
Underdog Cup #2
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25

Upcoming

ASL Season 20: Qualifier #1
ASL Season 20: Qualifier #2
ASL Season 20
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
BSL Season 21
RSL Revival: Season 2
Maestros of the Game
SEL Season 2 Championship
WardiTV Summer 2025
uThermal 2v2 Main Event
HCC Europe
ESL Pro League S22
StarSeries Fall 2025
FISSURE Playground #2
BLAST Open Fall 2025
BLAST Open Fall Qual
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.