Signal Stack - Train dispatch game

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  Main_Menu

Inspiration

We wanted to capture the rush of a subreddit pulling together for a shared mission. Classic dispatch sims like Railroad Tycoon inspired the core mechanics, and the Reddit × Kiro challenge pushed us to reimagine that tension as a persistent, community-first experience that lives entirely inside a single Reddit post.

What it does

Signal Stack is a seasonal rail dispatcher for Reddit. Everyone who opens the post steps into the same shared network—dispatch trains, juggle congestion, clear incidents, and chase seasonal objectives before the timer resets. The console ships with quick-dispatch controls, in-post debug tooling, animated trains on a live map, and incident cards that change the network state in real time.

How we built it

• Stack: Devvit Web (React/Vite client + Express-on-Devvit server) with TypeScript everywhere.
• State & logic: Redis tracks dispatch logs, station stats, objectives, and timed events. Snapshot routes tick arrivals and progress objectives so every poll stays in sync.
• UX polish: Animated SVG trains, curved track overlays, themed station glyphs, a pastel light console, and a tutorial landing flow for first-time players.
• Tooling: Kiro hooks for README automation, debug endpoints (clear log, reset cooldown, set debug speed), versioned Redis keys to avoid stale caches.

Challenges we ran into

• Balancing debug speed with believable ETAs so quick testing doesn’t break the live pacing.
• Managing shared Redis state between playtests without wiping legitimate runs.
• Making the console responsive inside Reddit’s iframe while keeping it launch-ready.
• Aligning curved track paths with the background image across devices.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

• A polished dispatcher console: custom main menu, tutorial, responsive tab layout, and seasonal overlay—all inside a Reddit post.
• A live event system with persistence, expiring incidents, and gameplay impact.
• Visual depth (animated tokens, curved rails, station glyphs) that makes the experience feel native to the platform.
• A robust playtest workflow powered by Kiro hooks, debug controls, and speed toggles.

What we learned

• Onboarding must be instant—players should understand the loop within seconds of opening the post.
• Kiro hooks are powerful for doc updates and CI automation beyond the hackathon brief.
• Devvit Web prefers statically imported assets (src/client/assets/...), which simplifies distributing themed art.
• Redis key versioning (signal-stack:*:v2) is essential once you update schemas mid-development.

What’s next for Signal Stack – Train Dispatch Game

• Add cooperative incident actions so redditors can vote to resolve alerts and earn buffs.
• Ship the seasonal archive viewer and reward track for long-term progression.
• Deepen Kiro integration (automated changelogs, scripted workflows) to compete for the Best Developer Experience prize.
• Expand the rail network with community-driven station unlocks and dynamic expansions.

Built With

• devvit-web-0.12
• express.js
• kiro
• node.js-22
• objectives
• react-19
• redis
• typescript
• vite