r/howdidtheycodeit

2.1K archived posts · Jun 2019 – Sep 2026

How Did They Code It?

r/howdidtheycodeit

"Wow, how did they do THAT?" - Ask here, get enlightened!

Created Jun 6, 2019

39KMembers (last snapshot)

2.1KArchived posts

This subreddit is for beginner/intermediate programmers to ask about how a specific feature in a game (or other program) was coded, if they can't imagine themselves how they would go about doing it. Answers do not actually have to be what the game was actually coded with, but can explain another method of accomplishing it.

We have user and post flair! If you want to see some other categories, let us know!

Question: Add this tag to your questions!

Answered: Question = > Answer

Showcase: Use this to tag your write-ups of your own features that make people say "wow, how'd they code that?"

Article: Use this tag for shared videos and articles that describe how a feature is done

Submission Guidelines

Be descriptive! It's hard to guess how something was made without knowing what exactly the feature/algorithm is. Try including screenshots and/or links to gameplay if possible.
Collaboration is encouraged! It's okay if you don't have any idea, but writing down your thoughts in the question will help give other redditors a jumping-off point.
One size does not fit all! When writing your questions and answers, be up front about the tradeoffs you're considering. Memory or Processing time? Visual fidelity or Texture Budget? Small Indie Game or AAA Studio?

(These are just suggestions, you can post without all of these, but the conversation will be more lively with a little bit of forethought!)

I created this subreddit because I am a novice coder who has often asked the question to myself when playing even small, indie games how a certain thing was coded. The thing that actually prompted me to actually create the subreddit though was a random, cool game, a Ludum Dare winner, Tangent: I was confused about how the circular transitions between different rooms of the game was accomplished. Example post about Tangent

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