How do you build productivity hooks?

I’m exploring an ambient desktop/terminal companion that grows as you complete deep work blocks (similar to Forest or Pengu, but tied directly to CLI events and terminal sessions).

The core tension is retention versus distraction:

If the companion relies on passive background triggers (git commits, compilation passes), users often forget it’s running and the emotional attachment dies.

If it requires active care (clicks, feeding, manual status updates), it quickly becomes another chore that gets closed during high-focus work.

For those who build habit apps or developer tooling: what is the sweet spot between passive ambient feedback and active engagement that sustains long-term utility instead of burning out after a week?