Password Typed 4 Times a Day Down to Once Every 3 Days: Claude Figured Out His Undocumented Timesheet API
- Level Advanced
- Setup1–3 hrs (estimated)
- Evidence Some evidence
- CostNot stated in source
- No-codeNo
What they did
He has to fill in timesheets in a system with a proprietary API that Claude was never trained on. Claude guessed and iterated, dumping responses and checking stack traces, until it worked out how to use the API. Filling in timesheets is now much less of a chore, and he enters a password once every three days instead of four times a day.
How it went
Timesheets filled through a script, with logins down from four a day to one every three days.
Worth knowing
- Hacker News comment by Arnt (Oct 25, 2026 Denver time): Claude reverse-engineered a proprietary timesheet API by trial and error, making timesheets much less bothersome.
- Check that your employer allows automating its systems, and never hard-code your password in the script.
Prompt
Cleaned version rewritten from the source — not a direct quote.
I fill in timesheets in [system]. Here's what I do by hand: [steps]. Using my browser's network log or the API at [URL], work out the calls needed to log [project, hours, date]. Write a small script that asks me for the week's entries and submits them. Store the login token securely, and show me a dry run before submitting anything.
Recommended
Try it in Grok Bot
Grok Bot can hand an API-automation job like this to a coding agent and report back.
- Copy the prompt (button below).
- Open Grok Bot chat and paste it. Replace any [bracketed] placeholders.
- Connect the listed tools (Browser) as connectors when Grok Bot asks.
- If the task repeats, ask: "Make this a daily routine."
Alternatives: the same prompt works in Claude, ChatGPT Agent, OpenClaw.
Set it up
Tools: Browser · Stack: Claude + proprietary timesheet API
- Read the original source for full context.
- Connect the tools your agent needs.
- Paste the prompt and replace [bracketed] placeholders.
- Run once manually and check the output before scheduling it.
Generic suggested steps, not from the source.
Evidence
Hacker News comment by Arnt (Oct 25, 2026 Denver time): Claude reverse-engineered a proprietary timesheet API by trial and error, making timesheets much less bothersome. Check that your employer allows automating its systems, and never hard-code your password in the script
Source: HN · 2026-10-25 · Verified by us: not yet · Report broken or outdated