Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Screeps VS HackDesign

Compare Screeps VS HackDesign and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Screeps logo Screeps

Learn to code JavaScript by playing game.

HackDesign logo HackDesign

Newsletter that teaches you design via 50 curated courses
  • Screeps Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-17
  • HackDesign Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-23

Screeps features and specs

  • Educational Value
    Screeps teaches real-world JavaScript programming concepts such as algorithms, optimization, and system design in a fun, gamified environment.
  • Real-time Strategy
    It combines elements of real-time strategy games with coding, offering a unique and challenging experience that keeps players engaged.
  • Persistent World
    The game world is persistent and runs 24/7, allowing your code to continue operating and evolving even when you're not logged in.
  • Community and Collaboration
    There is a strong community providing support, sharing code, and contributing to open-source projects related to the game.
  • Scalability
    The game can scale from small, personal projects to large, complex systems, providing ongoing challenges and opportunities for learning.

Possible disadvantages of Screeps

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Beginners might find the game difficult to grasp initially due to the complex mechanics and required programming knowledge.
  • Time-Consuming
    To effectively compete, players often need to invest significant time in optimizing and maintaining their code.
  • Subscription Costs
    While there is a free tier, many features and advanced gameplay elements are locked behind a subscription paywall.
  • Technical Requirements
    The game requires a good understanding of programming and problem-solving skills, which might be off-putting for casual gamers.
  • Server Issues
    There can be server stability and performance issues due to the constant demand and real-time nature of the game.

HackDesign features and specs

  • Free Access
    HackDesign provides free access to a wide range of design lessons and resources, making it accessible to anyone interested in learning design without financial barriers.
  • Curated Content
    The platform offers content curated by professional designers, ensuring users receive high-quality and relevant educational materials.
  • Diverse Topics
    HackDesign covers a broad spectrum of design topics, from basic principles to advanced techniques, catering to various skill levels and interests.
  • Self-Paced Learning
    Users can learn at their own pace, allowing them to balance their studies with other commitments and review materials as needed.
  • Community Support
    HackDesign fosters a community of learners and professionals who can share insights, collaborate, and support each other in their design journey.

Possible disadvantages of HackDesign

  • Lack of Interactivity
    The platform mainly consists of text-based lessons and links, which may not offer the interactive learning experiences some users prefer.
  • Variable Depth
    While offering a wide range of topics, the depth of coverage can vary, potentially leaving advanced learners seeking more in-depth material.
  • No Formal Certification
    HackDesign does not provide formal certifications or accreditations, which might be important for users looking to add credentials to their resumes.
  • Dependent on External Resources
    Much of the content is sourced from external links, which can lead to inconsistencies in quality or availability if the linked resources change or are removed.
  • Limited Multimedia Content
    There is limited use of multimedia such as videos or interactive simulations, which might reduce engagement for users who prefer visual or dynamic content.

Analysis of Screeps

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Screeps is a well-regarded game for those interested in programming and strategy.

Why this product is good

  • Screeps offers a unique blend of coding and gaming, allowing players to program real JavaScript or other languages to control in-game units. This not only makes for a dynamic and challenging experience but also provides a learning opportunity for both beginner and experienced programmers. The persistent world means that players’ projects can continue to evolve, and the community is generally supportive and engaged.

Recommended for

  • Aspiring programmers looking to practice coding in a fun environment
  • Experienced developers who enjoy applying their skills to strategic gameplay
  • Gamers who appreciate a challenge and are interested in games that require long-term planning and execution
  • Individuals interested in AI and automation who want a hands-on approach to learning

Screeps videos

Screeps Game REVIEW - Learn JavaScript by Playing - Educational MMO (Math/Programming)

More videos:

  • Review - What is Screeps? - by th_pion
  • Review - Game Developer's Toolbox: Learn programming with Screeps

HackDesign videos

No HackDesign videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Screeps and HackDesign)
Online Learning
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Online Education
100 100%
0% 0
CSS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Screeps and HackDesign

Screeps Reviews

15 Best LeetCode Alternatives 2023
You also get access to game API and docs of a full-fledged platform on Screeps. Because it uses games as its basis of operation, Screeps is more fun than LeetCode.

HackDesign Reviews

We have no reviews of HackDesign yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Screeps should be more popular than HackDesign. It has been mentiond 43 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Screeps mentions (43)

  • Show HN: A Competition Game to write bots for the most efficient algo
    Reminds me (in spirit) of screeps https://screeps.com/ - any inspiration? - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • AI Wars – control your 2d space shooter with AI
    I love the idea of having an AI prompt to write code for the bots. There are already games like https://screeps.com/ or https://store.steampowered.com/app/2060160/The_Farmer_Was_Replaced/ where you program your bot to do things, but they do require some minimal coding experience. Being able to describe behavior in plain english would be pretty cool. However, I think having real-time feedback is a huge part of... - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Show HN: Engineering Games (List)
    I've heard about Screeps which is close to what you describe: https://screeps.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Games like Stone Story RPG
    I have tried Screeps in the past, and I'm not a huge fan. I really like Stone Story, but they do not have an easy way to take your saves across multiple platforms -- you have to manually import/export your save. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Helping a young coder
    -For JavaScript, my advice would be to introduce coding games. That way it's more fun and the environment would be set up better (less worrying about deep technical errors). The two games that come to mind are Bitburner (free) and Screeps (free offline/paid online), though they both have their own learning curves and require actual coding; so for a 9 year old YMMV greatly. Source: about 2 years ago
View more

HackDesign mentions (5)

  • Ask HN: Best UI design courses for hackers?
    I recall the HackDesign website/course being great a few years ago! Not sure about now, but used to be free...! https://hackdesign.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Biamp Tesira Canvas Control Surface examples
    For short-form lessons, applied knowledge, and tooling intros https://hackdesign.org also has a decent set of resources. Source: about 2 years ago
  • How to Become a “Designer Who Codes”
    What specifically do you want to get better at? Visual design or interaction design? Try these: https://hackdesign.org/ https://www.interaction-design.org/courses/ui-design-patterns-for-successful-software https://www.manning.com/books/usability-matters https://pragprog.com/titles/lmuse2/designed-for-use-second-edition/ https://designcode.io/ui-design-for-developers https://www.learnui.design/newsletter.html... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • Nearly done 1st cert. Can't style CSS for sh*t.
    There is also a cool free resource online for learning design - https://hackdesign.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Ask HN: Best self-starter resources to learn web design?
    Hack Design is a design course as well as a curated list of resources and tools: https://hackdesign.org/ It's not limited to web design (though resources relevant to web design make up a large part of the course) but addresses design fundamentals such as colour theory and typography, too. - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Screeps and HackDesign, you can also consider the following products

CodeCombat - Learn programming with a multiplayer live coding strategy game.

Smashingmagazine - Smashing Magazine delivers useful and innovative information to Web designers and developers. Their aim is to inform about the latest trends and techniques in Web development.

Robocode - Robocode is a programming game where the goal is to code a robot battle tank to compete against...

Little Big Details - Your daily dose of design inspiration

CheckIO - CheckIO is a web site with a mission: To teach JavaScript and Python coding skills through a game-playing interface. It is designed to teach new skills or improve existing skills through completing challenges.

Atomic - The fastest way to design beautiful interactions