LittleBrother

Spec sheet

Purpose

LittleBrother monitors and limits children’s play time on Linux hosts by tracking configured processes.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Intended users

The project describes itself as a parental-control application for monitoring and limiting children’s play time on Linux computers.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Integrations

The project documents optional LDAP authentication and authorization, SQLite by default, and MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL for the master database.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

License

The public repository identifies the software as GPL-3.0 licensed.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Activity reports

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com

App blocking

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com

Client communication

Clients communicate with the master using HTTP and a shared access token; the documentation says this connection is always simple HTTP.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Limitations

The maker notes that processes may occasionally fail to terminate correctly, leaving users recorded as still logged in.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Multi-host monitoring

It can combine activity from any number of Linux client hosts through a master host, and can also run on one standalone host.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Other-device monitoring

It can estimate activity on other devices such as smartphones and tablets by pinging them, but cannot terminate activity on those devices.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Platforms and installation

The software is released as a Debian package, has a client snap, and offers Docker setup; the maker describes basic generic installation support for non-Debian distributions.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Play-time rules

Rules can set time windows, daily limits, session limits, required breaks, and exceptions based on day of week or vacation schedules; vacation schedules currently support Germany only.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Screen-time schedules

YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · github.com

Security caveat

The maker says the web server only responds to HTTP and recommends putting an internet-accessible master behind a reverse proxy that handles HTTPS termination.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Taskbar helper

The LittleBrotherTaskbar helper shows remaining play time and can speak notifications before a forced logout.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Tested distributions

The README lists tested distributions including Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, Arch Linux, and Alpine, with test dates and versions varying by distribution.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Web administration

The master provides a web interface for activity history and administration, and can be placed behind a reverse proxy for remote administration.Read 12 Oct 2026 · github.com

Plans and prices

Every LittleBrother plan and price →

Where Specifiction places it

• Parental control apps#62 of 1077.6