JS1024 Is Back – Build a Mind-Blowing Demo in Just 1024 Bytes!



This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by js1024

Demoscene meets JavaScript again — and this time, it’s leaner, meaner, and more creative than ever. Theme: CREEPY

Whether you’re a canvas wizard, a WebGL artist, or a pure HTML hacker, JS1024 2025 Edition is your playground. The only rule: make something impressive in 1 kilobyte of code or less.

📅 Competition Timeline

  • 🟢 July 1 – Contest starts & submission form opens
  • ⌛ July 15 – Submission deadline
  • 🗳 July 15–31 – Rating period
  • 🏆 Early August – Winners announced

🧠 What is JS1024?

JS1024 is a code golf + art competition. The goal is to create something amazing using JavaScript, HTML, or GLSL — but you’re only allowed 1024 bytes total. That’s right, your entire project must fit in just 1 KiB.

You can submit demos, visual experiments, animations, shaders, games, generative art — anything that fits the limit and blows minds.

🎨 Categories You Can Compete In

  1. Classic Canvas (JS)
    Use canvas, document, and JS tricks. You’ll be given variables like a, b, c, d, and M (mobile boolean).

  2. Shader Demo (GLSL)
    Think Shadertoy-style entries. WebGL 1, GLSL ES 1.0, and a 16:9 canvas with built-in inputs:
    iResolution, iTime, iTimeDelta, iFrame, iMouse, iDate

  3. No Shim (HTML)
    No preloaded helpers, no assumptions. Start with a blank HTML file and go wild.

📏 The Rules (Short and Sharp)

  • Max file size: 1024 bytes total (JS/HTML/GLSL)
  • No external files or dependencies
  • No analytics, tracking, or shady code
  • Keep your private participant key safe — it’s used for rating
  • You may include a readable, commented version for learning purposes (optional, but awesome)

🏆 Prizes & Bragging Rights

  • Winners from each category get money, spotlight, and top rankings
  • Finalists get eternal dev clout in the JS1024 Hall of Fame
  • But most importantly: you’ll earn respect from hardcore coders who live for byte-sized perfection

🧑‍💻 How to Join

It’s 100% free. No sign-up friction. Just:

  1. Go to https://js1024.fun
  2. Read the rules
  3. Submit your demo by July 15, 2025

👑 Why It Matters

JS1024 isn’t about winning a prize — it’s about mastering your craft under pressure, flexing your code golf muscles, and joining a tradition of minimalistic genius.

Join the demoscene revival. Write art in 1024 bytes. Prove your skill.

🔗 Links

See you in the source code.
Tag your posts with #js1024 and show us what you’ve got.


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by js1024