October 2026

Hackoween

A theme for every day of October. Make something small for any of them, post it with #hackoween, and I'll feature my favorites right here.

No prizes, no judges and no sign-up. Just a reason to make something every day, and a place to be seen for it.

How it works

1. Pick a theme. Any day, in any order. Do one, or do all 31. Missed a day? Do it late.
2. Make something. Code, a design, a font, an illustration, a tiny tool or a sketch on a napkin. An hour is plenty. Unfinished is fine.
3. Post it publicly with #hackoween. Tag @toolsiwishihad and say which day it's for, like "Day 3, Pumpkin."
4. Get featured. Every few days I add favorites to this page, with your name and a link back to your post.

The 31 themes

1. Day 1
   Haunted houseA home page for a house that doesn't want visitors.See mine
2. Day 2
   GhostSomething that's barely there. Make transparency the point.
3. Day 3
   PumpkinCarve it. A face, a letter or a layout made from cut-outs.
4. Day 4
   Black catBlack and one other color, nothing else.
5. Day 5
   BrewMix two things that shouldn't go together and see what bubbles up.
6. Day 6
   BatsLots of small things moving together.
7. Day 7
   SkeletonShow the bones. Outlines and wireframes, no fills.
8. Day 8
   FogBlur, grain and things slowly fading in.
9. Day 9
   Moon phasesSomething that changes over a cycle.
10. Day 10
    Spider webConnect the dots. Lines, threads and networks.
11. Day 11
    CursedA broken interface, on purpose. A button that fights back.
12. Day 12
    Potion labelPackaging for something nobody should drink.
13. Day 13
    ThirteenMake something with exactly 13 of anything.
14. Day 14
    GraveyardBring back something dead: an old website, a retired product, a forgotten font.
15. Day 15
    CandySweet colors, soft shapes, a little too much.
16. Day 16
    MonsterBuild a creature out of basic shapes.
17. Day 17
    GlowDark mode only. Make something light up.
18. Day 18
    TrickAn illusion. Make something look like something it isn't.
19. Day 19
    TreatMake something small and give it away for free.
20. Day 20
    MaskHide part of it. Masks, clipping and slow reveals.
21. Day 21
    Haunted cursorThe cursor has a mind of its own.
22. Day 22
    Secret messageHide something only some people will find.
23. Day 23
    WerewolfTransform. One thing turning into another.
24. Day 24
    ScarecrowPatchwork. Stitch together pieces from different places.
25. Day 25
    Night shiftMade after midnight, or made for the people awake then.
26. Day 26
    CoffinA tiny box. Fit a whole idea into a small rectangle.
27. Day 27
    SeanceTalk to the past. Make it in the style of an old computer or an old app.
28. Day 28
    ShadowMake something using only shadows.
29. Day 29
    CostumeRedesign something you use every day, in disguise.
30. Day 30
    Jack-o'-lanternLight through holes. Patterns with a glow behind them.
31. Day 31
    HackoweenFinish or remix your favorite piece from the month, or show the whole run.

Featured

Nothing here yet. The first features go up in the first week of October, so post early to be one of them.

Questions

Does it have to be code?

No. "Hack" just means made quickly with whatever you have. Designers, artists, type people and developers are all welcome, and so is anyone trying something for the first time.

Can I use AI or other tools?

Yes. Use whatever helps you make the thing. My tools are welcome too, but they aren't required.

Where should I post?

Anywhere public: Instagram, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest, X, Bluesky or your own site. If your account is private, I can't see it, so send me a link instead.

What does being featured mean?

Your post shows up on this page with your name, the day and a link back to you. By using #hackoween, you're okay with that. I won't use your work anywhere else without asking.

Can I be taken off the page?

Of course. Send me a note and it'll be gone the same day.

Mine, free to copy

I'm doing it too. Each of mine is plain HTML, CSS and JavaScript with no libraries. Take it apart, remix it or use it as a starting point for yours.