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1KB JavaScript Demoscene Challenge Just Launched
by babakode
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.
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.
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.
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
That's fair! I think your english is coming across great by the way. Appreciate the honesty!
How did you know OP used ChatGPT?
Three emdash's, "spiritual successor", "modern twist."
So I can't use em dashes, without people thinking I am a bot? :-o. But have to say, the "modern twist" is a weird addition that is not natural. There is nothing modern about it.
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!
> use your mouse to try and click the evading squares
2010's reality seems so close and yet so distant at the same time while trying to click it with duckduckgo on an android.
My pleasure. I love seeing people being creative
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/
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!
It is unclear if it must be canvas or if using the Dom is allowed.
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.
> 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
I think any local restrictions, beyond the 1024 character limit, would go against the spirit of it all.
There is two web technologies shims: HTML and Canvas
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.
Did that site just got "slashdotted"? Because none of the examples want to load atm.
It's working for me. All of them. There is no demos submitted for 2025 edition yet tho
Anyone looking for ideas should definitely check out:
Absolutely! That list is a goldmine of ideas hahaha perfect for 1KB inspiration.
Js is fun.
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").
Crafted by Rajat
Source Code