Where every byte counts
Build something incredible under strict memory limits
Win RAM upgrades for your setup
Push memory efficiency limits with creative solutions
Four simple steps to your RAM
Choose your desktop app concept. Think utility, creativity, or solving real problems.
Create something useful with at least 3 screens. Every optimization technique counts.
Install Hackatime plugin and log your coding hours. Time requirements vary by tier.
Submit your optimized app and win RAM upgrades based on runtime memory usage.
The less memory your app uses, the bigger your reward. Time commitment scales with ambition. (These are bound to change)
Everything you need to know about the Optimize Program
Yes, absolutely! Hackatime is required for all participants. Install the plugin for your code editor (VS Code, IntelliJ, Sublime, etc.) and ensure it's tracking your coding sessions. We use this data to verify you've met the minimum time requirements. Projects without proper Hackatime tracking will not be eligible for rewards.
Your app should solve a real problem or provide genuine utility. Examples: text editors, calculators, file organizers, productivity tools, games with depth, utility apps. Avoid: basic hello world apps, simple form submissions, or apps that only display static information.
Join the Hack Club Slack and head to the #optimize channel for questions, progress sharing, and technical help. The community is super helpful with optimization techniques and debugging memory issues!
All legitimate techniques are fair game! Memory pooling, efficient data structures, garbage collection optimization, minimal dependencies, lazy loading, memory-mapped files - get creative! Just document your techniques when submitting.
No, this is an individual challenge only. Each participant must work solo on their own project. This ensures fair judging and that everyone gets to fully experience the optimization learning process.
Memory usage is measured during runtime while your app is performing typical operations. We'll test your app with standard workflows and monitor RAM consumption using system monitoring tools. Peak memory usage determines your tier.
Any language that can create desktop applications! Popular choices include Rust, C++, Go, C#, Python, Java, Electron/TypeScript, and more. Choose what you're comfortable with, but remember some languages are naturally more memory-efficient than others.
This program ends at 8th August
No, it has to be GUI only.
Yes, any desktop app is allowed, as long as it meets the requirements.