Show HN: Schnitzeljagd.dev tests your web dev skills (opens in new tab)

(schnitzeljagd.dev)

9 pointsjulianwachholz2y ago15 comments

Inspired by the Cicada 3301 phenomenon and others, I created an internet scavenger hunt to test your web development knowledge and wit. It has 20 steps, getting more challenging the further you get. Time estimate: 1 hour(?)

Fun fact: I created a spreadsheet with ideas for this back in July 2014. I think as far as side projects go this one didn't take me too long.

15 comments

bobblywobbles2y ago

Neat idea. I had this page saved because I wanted to try it later.

If it wasn't for this thread I probably wouldn't have gotten past step 3. However, I have no clue how to move past step 4. I get the HINT we need to make a request, but I can't figure it out based on the instruction on the page. The page I tried is a 404. I'm not sure what <code> blocks are trying to convey, it's not clear to me. It would be fun to try to get to step 20, but if the clues get more vague at each step, there's no way I'll make it to the end.

julianwachholzOP2y ago

Try adding some query parameters. I've been tweaking the hints based on peoples' feedbacks and I hope later steps aren't so vague.

KomoD2y ago

I'm not sure I'd say it tests your webdev skills? A lot of stuff is just way too vague

open-paren2y ago

I think your clues are too vague. I (and all the people I've sent this to) are stuck on Step #6. Go down? Down to the third level of what?

julianwachholzOP2y ago

I agree some steps need clearer directions. Writing good clues is clearly not my strength and Chat GPT isn't any help either.

The game takes place on the second level. You can add a third level.

ezekg2y ago

It was fun at first, but I've been stuck on step 7 for about 15 mins. Calling it. The hints are a bit too vague for me. Tried different ports (thought I had it there), different HTTP methods, and a few Accept content-types.

Spent >30 mins to get that far, so definitely more than an hour of playtime to complete.

1 more reply

notresidenter2y ago

I thought it was about the network layer in the OSI model (level 3), so I expected that traceroute schnitzeljagd.dev would be the first step to pass the step but no, nothing.

notresidenter2y ago

Actually, I've figured it out. You just need to think about other kinds of levels.

phist_mcgee2y ago

Great game man, I really enjoyed it!

julianwachholzOP2y ago

Thank you! How far did you get?

dandongus2y ago

I think perhaps step #7 is down/offline now

julianwachholzOP2y ago

I assure you it's not :)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

15 comments

bobblywobbles2y ago

Neat idea. I had this page saved because I wanted to try it later.

julianwachholzOP2y ago

Try adding some query parameters. I've been tweaking the hints based on peoples' feedbacks and I hope later steps aren't so vague.

KomoD2y ago

I'm not sure I'd say it tests your webdev skills? A lot of stuff is just way too vague

open-paren2y ago

I think your clues are too vague. I (and all the people I've sent this to) are stuck on Step #6. Go down? Down to the third level of what?

julianwachholzOP2y ago

I agree some steps need clearer directions. Writing good clues is clearly not my strength and Chat GPT isn't any help either.

The game takes place on the second level. You can add a third level.

ezekg2y ago

Spent >30 mins to get that far, so definitely more than an hour of playtime to complete.

1 more reply

notresidenter2y ago

I thought it was about the network layer in the OSI model (level 3), so I expected that traceroute schnitzeljagd.dev would be the first step to pass the step but no, nothing.

notresidenter2y ago

Actually, I've figured it out. You just need to think about other kinds of levels.

phist_mcgee2y ago

Great game man, I really enjoyed it!

julianwachholzOP2y ago

Thank you! How far did you get?

dandongus2y ago

I think perhaps step #7 is down/offline now

julianwachholzOP2y ago

I assure you it's not :)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse