How the program works

Inspired by Hack Club Fallout's docs

This is the full tour of how the program works: how you earn fruits, how projects get reviewed, and what shipping looks like from day one to the final build. If you already know you want to build software or hardware and just want the setup links, the Read Me has faster paths.

Two Paths, One Goal

You can build software projects (websites, apps, games, bots) or hardware projects (PCBs, 3D-printed gadgets, electronics). Or both. Either way, you earn fruits for the hours you put in, which you can spend on prizes in the shop.

The difference is how you get there:

Software: You code, Hackatime tracks your hours automatically, and you earn fruits based on time spent. Use those fruits to buy prizes in the shop.

Hardware: You design your project, submit it for review, and get funded to buy parts. Then as you build it IRL, you earn fruits for the hours spent building. Those fruits go toward prizes in the shop too.

The Five Steps

The premise is simple:

1. Come up with an idea
2. Track your progress as you work
3. Submit your design for review
4. Build it
5. Share it with the world and earn prizes

Step 1: The Idea

Ever watched a YouTube video and wondered how they built that? Now's your chance to start.

It can be really simple. If you're new, it should be really simple. That's how you improve. But it should feel closer to a product than a demo. Your goal is to build something others can understand, recreate, and build on.

Make it personal! You'll enjoy working on it and time will fly. Don't copy-paste someone else's work or follow tutorials verbatim. It should be your project, not someone else's, and not AI's.

Not sure if your idea is good enough? Check the What Makes a Good Project page.

Step 2: Track Your Progress

Every hour you spend building earns you fruits. But we need to verify your work is real, so tracking is required.

Software projects: Install Hackatime in your code editor. It runs in the background and automatically tracks your coding hours. No extra work needed.

Hardware projects: Write journal entries on your project page. Be detailed: what you did, what you learned, what went wrong. Attach photos at every step.

AI doesn't know you. It doesn't matter if you're "bad at writing," just don't use it. Your journals should be written by you.

Step 3: Submit for Review

Once your project is ready (or your design is complete for hardware), submit it for review. Reviewers check that your work is original, your documentation is clear, and your design makes sense.

Software projects: You need a GitHub repository with a good README, your source code, and Hackatime connected.

Hardware projects: You need a GitHub repository with your design files (CAD, PCB, firmware), a BOM (bill of materials), and a clear README. After approval, you'll receive funding to buy your parts.

Step 4: Build It

Software projects: Keep coding, keep pushing to GitHub. Hackatime tracks your hours and you earn fruits as you go.

Hardware projects: Order your parts with the funding you received. Build your project IRL. Keep journaling your progress. The hours you spend building earn you additional fruits for the shop.

Step 5: Share It With the World

Update your GitHub repo, share your project online (Reddit, Instagram, etc.), and submit your final build for review. Once approved, you'll earn fruits to spend on cool prizes in the shop!

If your hardware build doesn't work, you're not stuck. Submit an update ship with I need funding for this ship ticked to request more money for replacement parts. You'll need to document your findings in a new journal entry so reviewers can see what went wrong and what you're changing. If the project works and you just kept improving it, leave the box unchecked and earn fruits for the hours you logged.

Check the submission requirements for builds before submitting.