Build your first project

The whole path from nothing to a shipped project, in order.

1. Pick something

A small idea of your own, or a beginner trial from an NPC in game. Never built a website? Start with Your first site, line by line.

2. Set up a folder and a Git repo

Make a folder, run git init, push it to GitHub. Reviewers read your source to approve your hours, so this isn't optional. New to Git? Git and GitHub covers it.

3. Install Hackatime before you write anything

Hackatime tracks your coding time from inside your editor. Hours you spend before installing it can't be recovered, so do this now rather than after your first session. The Hackatime setup guide takes a couple of minutes.

4. Register the project

Open your web dashboard, hit + NEW PROJECT, give it a title and link your GitHub repo. Pick the Hackatime project name it should pull hours from.

5. Build and journal

Write your code, test it, push as you go. After each session write a short journal entry about what you did.

6. Ship it

Once it runs and your hours are tracked, hit SHIP. Add the demo link, upload a screenshot, answer the reflection questions and submit. A reviewer checks the build, approves your hours and your pixels land.