1KB JavaScript Demoscene Challenge Just Launched
95 points
6 hours ago
| 9 comments
| HN
I just launched JS1024 — a creative coding challenge with a strict limit: 1024 bytes of JavaScript.

No libraries. No frameworks. Just raw code.

You can submit visual effects, generative art, tiny games, synths, or whatever you can fit into 1KB of JavaScript.

https://js1024.fun/

Think of it as a spiritual successor to JS1k or the 4k demoscene — with a modern twist.

Would love feedback, ideas, or help spreading the word. And if you’ve ever made a tiny JS demo, please share — I’d love to see it.

averageRoyalty
2 hours ago
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Why did you use ChatGPT to write your submission text? I can't speak for everyone, but it makes me much less likely to check out your project as I have less faith in it.
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babakode
1 hour ago
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Yes that is true! But the reason is because I do not know english that good I'm not an english speaker, sorry for making the post look spammish
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averageRoyalty
1 hour ago
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That's fair! I think your english is coming across great by the way. Appreciate the honesty!
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wilkystyle
24 minutes ago
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How did you know OP used ChatGPT?
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nateb2022
22 minutes ago
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Three emdash's, "spiritual successor", "modern twist."
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binarymax
3 hours ago
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Participated in the first two JS1ks. Thanks for bringing this back! Having some nostalgia. I can't believe this is 15 years old already: https://js1k.com/2010-first/demo/688

Thanks for keeping the JS demoscene alive!

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babakode
2 hours ago
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My pleasure. I love seeing people being creative
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mr_sturd
1 hour ago
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This is great! I remember taking part in the first JS1K competition. For some reason, I wrote most of the code semi "optimised" before running it through a "proper" optimiser. Good times!

https://js1k.com/2010-first/details/133

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xnx
5 hours ago
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Given the amount of features built-in to modern browsers, there should be some very impressive things possible in 1K.

There have been a few cool Javascript things in 140 characters: https://www.dwitter.net/

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zamadatix
4 hours ago
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Happy to see another year!

I think it'd be nice if the rest of the shims were dropped too. "1024 bytes of JavaScript. No libraries. No frameworks. Just raw code". Year by year it's getting easier to do more in the same amount of bytes. Last year's 1st place winner was a plain HTML entry which implemented its own canvas. 8 of all 148 entries 2020-2024 have used the shader shim, fewer than used the deprecated p5js shim in 2020. The categories/category winners are cool but it should be based on what approach was used rather than which framework they started with. E.g. "Sand and Water" is the "js winner" solely because it used the shim and "Splash Dash" didn't but really Splash Dash won both overall and won the js canvas category too, it just did it without the free bytes from the canvas framework.

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econ
5 hours ago
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It is unclear if it must be canvas or if using the Dom is allowed.
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skhameneh
5 hours ago
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I found it clear after reading the page, the “Demo Categories & Shim Details” gives three different options.

In short, canvas is not required, using the DOM is allowed.

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moritzwarhier
5 hours ago
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> You can submit visual effects, generative art, tiny games, synths, or whatever you can fit into 1KB of JavaScript.

There is no mention of canvas

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nomel
4 hours ago
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I think any local restrictions, beyond the 1024 character limit, would go against the spirit of it all.
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babakode
2 hours ago
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There is two web technologies shims: HTML and Canvas
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mg794613
5 hours ago
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Did that site just got "slashdotted"? Because none of the examples want to load atm.
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babakode
2 hours ago
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It's working for me. All of them. There is no demos submitted for 2025 edition yet tho
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leptons
2 hours ago
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Anyone looking for ideas should definitely check out:

https://beta.dwitter.net/top/year

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babakode
2 hours ago
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Absolutely! That list is a goldmine of ideas hahaha perfect for 1KB inspiration.
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revskill
3 hours ago
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Js is fun.
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cies
3 hours ago
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I wonder is someone truly believing this is a good hire ("the new hire can do the JS!") or a bad hire (as in: no clue what a fun programming language is like, or "must have never used JS in anger").
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