Any AI. One file. 90 minutes. We rank the human.

Any AI. One file. 90 minutes. We rank the human.

VIBELADDER is a weekly, time-boxed "vibe-coding" competition where participants have 90 minutes to build a small complete app using any AI tools; entries are single-file HTML submissions judged head-to-head, earning an Elo-style rating and published replays with full prompt transcripts.

Any AI. One file. 90 minutes. We rank the human. is coding software teams evaluate for software & gaming. Use this page to review pricing, integration signals, and the best alternatives before you commit.

Free
One of 64 tools in Coding
Just launched
Data reviewed Sep 11, 2026

Profile facts come from the vendor source. AiMatch labels unknown pricing or API details instead of estimating them.

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Quick Overview

Best for: Software & Gaming

What it does

Coding software for decision-makers comparing workflow fit and alternatives.

Best fit

Software & Gaming

Pricing snapshot

Free from Free

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VIBELADDER is a weekly vibe-coding competition (Season 1) where a small, secret task drops each Saturday and participants have 90 minutes to build a small, complete app using any AI tools. Submissions must be a single self-contained HTML file that works offline, and entrants must provide their full session transcript or a screen recording. Submissions that pass a functional smoke test enter head-to-head pairwise judging against a rubric; results update an Elo-style rating and winning runs are published with annotated replays and transcripts.

Task drops Saturday. 90 minutes. Bring whatever AI you want — we rank the human.

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Key Features

90-minute timed rounds

Each task drops simultaneously for all competitors on Saturday; you have 90 minutes from the drop to submit, enforced by submission timestamp.

Any AI tool allowed

Competitors may use any AI tool or model (examples listed: Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, Windsurf, raw API); the tool choice is declared but the human is ranked.

Single-file HTML deliverable

Submissions must be one self-contained HTML file that works opened from disk with the network off — no external scripts, fonts, or API calls.

Transcript / anti-cheat requirement

A full session export or screen recording must accompany each entry; no transcript means no entry. Top finishers' transcripts are audited before results publish.

Head-to-head judging & Elo-style rating

Submissions passing a mechanical smoke test are compared pairwise against the round rubric; results feed an Elo/Bradley-Terry-style rating that carries across rounds.

Published replays

Every winning run is published with its full prompt transcript and annotated replays are published for winners.

Verified seats and public nicknames

Seats are held with Google or GitHub sign-in (private); only the chosen public nickname is shown to enforce one seat per person.

Pricing

Free Tier Available

Season 1 is free; there are deliberately no monetary prizes in Season 1.

Season 1

Free
  • Participation in weekly rounds
  • Elo-style rating
  • Published replay and transcript for winning runs
  • Season badge

Use Cases

Skill-building in AI-assisted coding

Practice prompting and directing AI to build small, functional apps under a strict time limit; the ladder measures how effectively a human directs AI.

Public showcase and learning

Winners' prompt transcripts and annotated replays are published, providing concrete examples and learning material for others.

Competitive ranking and community

Participants build a persistent Elo-style rating across rounds to compare performance over a season and across players.

Accessible entry for non-expert coders

The format allows people with little syntax knowledge to enter by directing AI rather than hand-coding, as explicitly stated.

Integrations

AI tools (any)

Participants may use any AI tool or model (examples cited: Claude Code, Cursor, Copilot, Windsurf, raw API).

Google / GitHub sign-in

Sign-in via Google or GitHub is required to hold a season seat (login is private; only your chosen nickname is shown).

Benefits

Measures prompting and AI-direction skill rather than raw syntax knowledge.
Time-boxed, fair competition with enforced submission timestamps.
Public publication of winning runs and transcripts for learning and transparency.
Persistent rating system that reflects relative performance across rounds.
Open tool choice: use any AI model or environment you prefer.

Limitations

Submissions must be a single self-contained HTML file that runs offline — no external scripts, fonts, or network/API calls.
Strict 90-minute submission window enforced by timestamp; late submissions are disqualified.
Transcript or screen recording is required with every entry; no transcript means no entry.
One entry per person per round and verified account required (Google/GitHub).
No monetary prizes in Season 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tasks?
Small, complete apps buildable to 'working' in about an hour, with headroom above that where skill shows. Each task ships with a public functional checklist after the round.
Why record my prompts?
Two reasons: anti-cheat (proof a human drove the session inside the window) and content — winning replays and prompts are the most interesting thing and get published and annotated.
How exactly is judging done?
A mechanical 5-item smoke test checks core functionality; survivors go into Swiss-style pairwise comparisons where an LLM judge compares running apps against the round rubric (functional depth, UX, robustness, ambition), with human spot-checks and a manual audit of the top five. Ratings are a Bradley-Terry fit over pairwise results.
Can I enter with no coding experience?
Yes — the ladder measures how well you direct an AI, not how much syntax you know. Smoke-test survival is achievable in round one.
Why is there no prize money?
Deliberately none for Season 1; the focus is on rating, badges, and published replays. Sponsorship and prizes are considered for later seasons after results are public.
What if I can't make a Saturday?
No problem — your seat is good for the whole season. Skip any round and join the next one; ratings are built from the rounds you actually play.
Why do I sign in with Google or GitHub?
To hold your seat and stop duplicate or throwaway entries. The login is never displayed or shared; only your chosen nickname is shown publicly.
Who runs this?
One person, openly. Season 1 is judged semi-manually and the method and results are published; if successful, the pipeline may be automated and the ladder made permanent.

Getting Started

  1. 1 Claim a seat by signing in with Google or GitHub to reserve your nickname for the season.
  2. 2 Show up on Saturday at the scheduled drop time (task drops Saturday 17:00 CET) and open the unlocked submission page.
  3. 3 Build within the 90-minute window and submit a single self-contained HTML file plus your full session transcript or screen recording before the deadline.

Support

docs

Site pages including the submission page, rules, schedule, leaderboard, and sponsors page provide event details and published results.

API

Available: No

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