June 16, 2025
I added support for loading github and slack avatars when linked.
Finally, a MASSIVE code runner runtime improvement! We went from 20-60 secs benchmarking a problem with 3 test cases to 3-10 secs! I did this using 2 clever tricks: running all tests in a single code runner process, and keeping a pool of code runners in the background waiting until a user wants to run their code, leading to way faster startup times.
I also updated the code runners to kill itself if the code execution takes longer than 20 seconds.
Nothing special, just made a powershell script to copy our .env and build the app.
Upgraded our auth forms to use react hook form, resulting in faster and better form validation
Rewrote our navbar so it works 100% using CSS, without React states, making it way faster to render and more responsive. This took way longer than I wanted :(
Way faster and easier form validation using React-Hook-Form, instead of using our own regex when the user clicks "save). Only implemented it for the settings so far, but it should be much easier to do for the auth pages now.
Probably not worth mentioning it but I made better popups instead of using javascripts alert(). I got an idea that could make our code runner way faster (I saw how long the reviewer had to wait in the proof video), but I didn't implemented it yet
We finally use the real username plugin instead of using the name field. This required some SQL changes and I'm very scared to destroy our prod database, but it works on my machine :)
Very basic settings
Github OAuth support!
Slack OAuth support!
Changed alot of server and docker configs. I also added some labels to let users know about possible wait times and timing inaccuracy. There also is a problem with our db which causes the site to sometimes go down for a few minutes, but I think this is Nest's fault.
We now override the default right-click context menu when clicking in the editor
You can now delete components. Next up: delete and edit wires
We finally have user processes! This took me so long. The final fix was running kernel code using JUMP instead of just calling the entry point. I'm so happy lol, this feature took me 15h (!).
I also installed Zed editor, it's blazing fast but for some reason didn't it log all my time...
Wires! You can also drag components.
We can render components! Wires and dragging components are next
I set up the basic classes and folder structure, and we can draw a grid! Thats it, the buttons don't work
You can... well... simulate electronics, you know?
I got the ELF loading to work, but when the program sends the exit syscall, we can't return to kernel mode for some reason. I spent for 3h debugging it, without a result. I even asked Claude (my original plan was no AI 🥺), but that made it worse, so I think I'll just revert all commits...
Refactor, realistic and map view
We've launched our site! Check it out at: https://bytesarena.programordie.hackclub.app/
(Just docker stuff this commit)
Render planets
Celestial bodies. I hate maths.
Setup physics engine (rust wasm) and the frontend. Not as easy as I expected, but hey, it works!
Setup a build script and spent 30 mins fixing a cache bug, which turned out to be not my fault. Now waiting for my ID to be approved for Nest...
A new icon, metadata, a lot of small fixes and a REAMDE. I think we are coming closer to launch...
We support array types! I also added a profanity filter, so you can't swear anymore, sorry...
Finally, after all this time, secure execution on the backend, so finally timed execution time! I needed Docker for this, it's not as scary as it looks like!
Started working on the leaderboard, split some code and updated the styles. I hate CSS.
We now accept one solution per language instead of one per puzzle!
Completed profiles 💪
Finished the homepage, improved execution, updated UI, hated Python for having indents, ...
Forgot to commit 🤐
Compete to solve programming puzzles with the fastest or shortest possible solutions. Submit your own challenges, vote on your favorites, and see who can crack the daily featured problem. Sharpen your skills, challenge the community, and climb the leaderboard—all in one fun, fast-paced platform.
This was widely regarded as a great move by everyone.