SHORT. · Game Guide

How the game works

One Python challenge per day. Answer once. Earn XP, build streaks, unlock achievements, and climb the leaderboard.

Today's challenge
attempt / day
+10
easy XP
+20
medium XP
+30
hard XP
−5
wrong XP
8
achievements

Scoring

XP earned per difficulty — wrong answers subtract XP.

Easy No timer
+10
XP

Warm-up. Build consistency.

Medium 90s
+20
XP

Interview-style thinking.

Hard 45s
+30
XP

Edge cases & deep nuances.

Wrong penalty
−5
XP

Applies to wrong answers and timeouts.

Rules
One submission per day — you cannot change your answer.
XP total never drops below 0.
Explanation unlocks after you submit.
Timer expiry auto-submits as wrong (−5 XP).

Comeback Multiplier

A catch-up mechanic that gives late starters a real chance to compete.

If you're significantly behind the top players, the game automatically applies an XP multiplier to your correct answers. The further behind you are, the bigger the boost.

Tier 1

Below 50% of top-10 average

1.5×
Tier 2

Below 25% of top-10 average

Conditions
Requires at least 7 answered questions before activating.
Only applies to correct answers.
Recalculated in real time against the current top-10 average.
A XP Boost Active banner appears on the challenge page when active.
Example — top-10 avg: 400 XP
Your XP: 180 (45%)
1.5× boost
Hard correct → 45 XP
Your XP: 80 (20%)
2× boost
Hard correct → 60 XP
Your XP: 250 (62%)
No boost
Hard correct → 30 XP

Answer Timer

Medium and Hard questions have a countdown. Easy has no timer.

Easy
No limit

Take your time. No pressure.

Medium
90s

Enough to analyse the snippet carefully.

Hard
45s

Less time, more pressure. Think fast.

The timer ring turns orange under 20 seconds and red under 10. Submit as soon as you're confident — don't wait until it runs out.

Streak

Consecutive days with a correct answer.

Build it

Answer today's question correctly — streak +1.

Maintain it

Keep answering correctly every day without missing.

Lose it

Miss a day or answer wrong → streak resets to 0.

7-day milestone

Earn a bonus Streak Freeze token (max 3).

Streak Freeze

Protect your streak when life gets in the way.

What it does

If you missed yesterday, a Freeze token lets you retroactively protect that day so your streak doesn't reset.

How to use it

A banner appears automatically on the daily challenge page if your streak is at risk. Click "Use Freeze" to activate.

Tokens
You start with 1 freeze token.
Earn +1 every time you hit a 7-day streak.
Maximum of 3 tokens at any time.

Achievements

8 badges to unlock — earned ones appear on your profile.

First Launch

Answer your first question correctly

On Fire

7 correct days in a row

Unstoppable

30 correct days in a row

Century

100 correct answers total

Hard Knocks

10 hard questions correct

Sharpshooter

5 correct without a wrong in between

Legend

Reach 600 XP total

Ice Cold

Use your first streak freeze

Achievements are checked automatically after every answer. A notification appears when you unlock one. View all badges on your profile page.

Levels & Ranks

Your rank is based on total XP earned.

B
Bronze
0 – 999 XP
S
Silver
1000 – 2999 XP
G
Gold
3000 – 5999 XP
L
Legend
6000+ XP

Your profile shows progress within your current rank and XP needed for the next one.

Leaderboard

Global ranking based on total XP.

Ranking signal

Total XP is the only ranking signal. Podium shows top 3, full list below with pagination.

Mini leaderboard

Top 10 is also visible on the daily challenge page — you always know where you stand.

Strategy

Hard questions give +30 XP — the fastest way to climb. But wrong answers cost −5, so only go for it when confident.

FAQ

Quick answers to common questions.

Can I answer multiple times?

No. One attempt per day — that's what makes it meaningful.

Why do wrong answers subtract XP?

It keeps rankings fair and rewards careful reasoning over guessing.

What happens if the timer runs out?

Auto-submits as wrong — you lose 5 XP. Select before time runs out.

Does a wrong answer break my streak?

Yes. Only a correct answer keeps the streak going. Wrong answer or missed day resets it.

How do I get more freeze tokens?

Earn +1 every time you hit a 7-day correct streak. Maximum 3 tokens at once.

Can I report a wrong question?

Yes. After answering, scroll below the explanation to find the Report link. Choose a reason and submit.

Where do I see my achievements?

On your Profile page — all 8 badges shown, earned ones highlighted.

What is accuracy?

Correct answers as a percentage of all submissions: (correct / total) × 100.