Inspiration
We wanted to build something that feels painfully real — the chaos of fixing bugs while being constantly interrupted by pings, alerts, and deadlines. Whether it’s a manager message, a low battery warning, or your mom calling mid-debug, StackRush turns the stressful energy of a real dev day into a playable experience. The idea was simple: what if bug fixing felt like a boss fight?
What it does
StackRush is a desktop-first web game that drops players into a simulated IDE environment. The mission: fix the bug before time runs out — while handling surprise distractions.
You’ll experience: A realistic coding interface with multi-tab editor Real-time distractions (calls, messages, alerts) that affect performance Manager/client prompts that must be responded to Timed DSA challenges (fix algorithmic bugs fast) Task-based bug tickets across multiple files
Users can: View available challenges without logging in Log in to play, fix bugs, and score points Select DSA speed challenges or task-based bugs Respond to distractions (accept/snooze/ignore) Code in simulated IDE using NextJS (Frontend) and NodeJS (Backend)
Admins can: Access a private /admin route (hidden from nav) Upload new challenges or distraction events Protected by sample frontend-only auth (backend-ready)
How we built it
Built using Next.js (App Router) Styled with TailwindCSS UI components via shadcn/ui Animated transitions with Framer Motion State and flow via useState/useContext Simulated IDE using controlled textareas (Monaco integration coming) Sounds powered by Howler.js Auth simulated using client-side login logic only Distractions and client pings are injected as timed modals, triggered randomly or during certain score conditions. Code logic and bug data are handled entirely on the frontend using mock data for now.
Challenges we ran into
Balancing pressure and playability — too much chaos = frustration Creating realistic IDE-like UI without an actual sandboxed compiler Designing distractions that feel authentic and diverse Keeping state transitions modular yet reactive Maintaining clean UI while simulating cognitive overload
Accomplishments that we're proud of
A fully modular frontend game loop using Bolt-style architecture Functional guest vs. login logic with gated access Smooth visual feedback loop for distraction, compile, and game states Scalable system for injecting DSA or task-style bug templates Designed UI that feels clean under pressure, not just functional
What we learned
UX design under simulated pressure is extremely nuanced Timing, sound, and animation are just as important as layout Games aren’t just about interaction — they’re about rhythm Breaking gameplay into atomic UI states makes development easier and future-proof Even without a backend, we could simulate a full-stack experience
What's next for StackRush
Sandboxed code execution across 4+ languages Real-time leaderboard and score sync Multiplayer mode: bug-fix race with other users Community bug submission system Dark mode toggle + accessibility improvements Keyboard shortcuts and power-user IDE features
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