code-golf

Daily coding challenges on Reddit; submit the shortest correct code, climb the leaderboard, and build daily streaks in a fast competitive code golf arena.

Comment

Inspiration

Daily Code Golf was inspired by the addictive nature of daily challenge games like Wordle combined with the competitive and collaborative culture of developer communities on Reddit. Developers love optimization, clever tricks, and learning from each other’s solutions, code golf naturally creates this dynamic.

The goal was to build something that feels native to Reddit:

  • quick to play
  • competitive but fun
  • educational without feeling like homework
  • social through shared leaderboards.

What it does

Daily Code Golf is a Devvit-based interactive Reddit game where:

  • A new coding challenge appears every day.
  • Players submit the shortest possible code solution.
  • Solutions are ranked by character length.
  • Users build streaks by participating daily.
  • A public leaderboard drives friendly competition.

The core scoring concept is simple:

$$ score = \text{length of submitted code} $$

Lower scores rank higher on the leaderboard.

How I built it

The project was built using: Reddit Devvit for app structure, user identity, and platform integration. Devvit storage/state for tracking: - daily challenges - user submissions - leaderboards - streak data.

Devvit handles:

  • daily challenge logic
  • leaderboard ranking
  • user streak tracking
  • Reddit-native UI components.

Challenges I ran into

Devvit Architecture Learning Curve

Understanding how to structure persistent game state within Devvit required adapting to a platform-first mindset rather than traditional web app architecture.

Balancing Simplicity vs Features;

It was tempting to implement:

  • code execution sandboxes
  • syntax highlighting editors
  • multi-language support. However, I prioritized simplicity to ensure the core gameplay loop was solid.

Designing for Reddit Culture

Unlike standalone apps, Reddit experiences need to feel lightweight, social, and fast. The UI and interaction model were simplified to match this expectation.

Accomplishments that I am proud of

1. Minimal MVP First

Instead of building a full coding execution environment, I focused on:

  • character-length scoring
  • fast submission loops. This allowed rapid iteration and early testing.

2. Daily Retention Mechanics

I added streak tracking and shared leaderboards because daily rituals increase engagement. Users return to maintain streaks and improve rankings.

What I learned

  • Daily mechanics and streak systems significantly influence engagement.
  • Competitive transparency (leaderboards) drives repeated interaction.
  • Starting with a minimal, focused gameplay loop is more effective than building complex features early.
  • Reddit-native experiences should emphasize community interaction over heavy UI complexity.

What's next for code-golf

  • GameMaker integration for interactive coding interfaces.
  • Language-specific leaderboards (JavaScript vs Python vs Rust).
  • Optional code validation with sandbox execution.
  • Highlighting creative tricks used in top solutions.

Built With

Share this project:

Updates