1
Build Something Original
Start with a real annoyance, workflow gap, or playful idea people will actually want to keep using.
- Quality-of-life upgrades win
- Thin wrappers usually do not
Time tracking warning
Don't cheat Hackatime. No bots, no fake key presses, no UI manipulation. If you do, you can be banned from Hackatime and future Hack Club events.
Make projects, not excuses, and earn rewards with Carnival.
Build an extension, plugin, or widget for the tools you already use. Every honest hour you track turns into $4/hr toward your dev setup.
Spin up a ride like
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Submission baseline
- Solve a real annoyance or quality-of-life problem.
- Make it open source and usable by real people.
- Aim for at least 5 real users before you submit.
- Double-dipping is not allowed.
- Thin wrappers, remixes, and fake time do not count.
Countdown
Countdown to the Carnival finale.
Deadline: May 31, 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
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How It Works
2
Ship It Open Source
Publish clear code, a usable release, and enough context that someone else can install and understand it.
- Add a README and screenshots
- Get real people trying it
3
Submit and Claim Rewards
Track honest time with Hackatime, share what you built, and turn the work into grant money for your setup.
- Every honest hour adds +$4
- Double-dipping is not allowed
Submission
Sweet deals on submission
Bonus boosts for standout builds.
Be original, make something people genuinely want to use, and stack bonus grant money on top of your tracked hours.
+$10
First on a new editor/app
Ship the first original extension for an editor or app nobody else has claimed yet.
+$25
Goes viral
Make something people love. Think 100+ GitHub stars or 250+ social likes.
+$5 to $20
Wildcard bonus
Extra love for projects that are especially creative, funny, or technically sharp.
Rewards
Upgrade your setup
Turn honest hours into tools you actually want.
Carnival grants are meant to make your workflow better, faster, or weirder in the best possible way.
Creative Tools
- Procreate license
- JetBrains IDE license
- Design tools
- Cursor Pro
Hardware & Setup
- Peripherals
- Computer upgrades
- Development hardware
- Specialty devices
Infrastructure
- Domain credits
- Cloud hosting
- API access
- Development services
Get Involved
- 1
Join the #carnival channel
Ask questions, share progress, and trade ideas with the community in Slack.
- 2
Set up Hackatime
Track real coding time so your hours can convert into grant money.
- 3
Build your extension
Ship something original for an editor, app, browser, or creative tool.
- 4
Submit for review
Show the screenshots, explain the work, and claim your rewards.
Join the midway
Build in public and ask for feedback early.
The fastest way to get unstuck is to show people what you're making while it's still messy.
Open #carnival on SlackWhen you're ready
Start a project, track your hours, then submit the best version.
Your grant value grows from real progress, polished screenshots, and a clear explanation of why the tool matters.
Start a projectFAQ
Questions by the campfire
The fast answers before you ship.
If you still feel unsure after this, ask in public. Most Carnival questions get resolved faster in the Slack channel.
Need more context?