Dev tools · alternatives · 2026

24 alternatives to Code In The Dark

Visual code writing effects

Below are 24 products that do a similar job, ranked by how close each is in meaning and then by launch-day votes. Code In The Dark launched in 2015; newer entries below may have overtaken it.

1. 1
   Chrome Experiments▲137

   Showcase of web experiments written by creative coders

   2015 · experiments.withgoogle.com · its alternatives →

2. 2
   Light-Bot▲84

   Programming Apps Teaching the Basics of Code

   2015 · lightbot.com · its alternatives →

3. 3
   Cycles▲179

   Visual feedback and approvals for web development

   2016 · cycleshq.com · its alternatives →

4. 4
   Codecrap▲93

   Where developers go to laugh and cry

   2014 · codecrap.com · its alternatives →

5. 5
   Code Doodles▲84

   See an amazing code demo on every new tab

   2015 · chromewebstore.google.com · its alternatives →

6. 6
   Codebrag▲71

   Code reviews made fun

   2014 · codebrag.com · its alternatives →

7. 7
   CodeCode Ninja▲114

   Flashcards for programmers

   2015 · its alternatives →

8. 8
   Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming▲70

   Interviews with the 15 most interesting computer programmers

   2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

9. 9
   Input▲97

   Fonts for Code

   2015 · its alternatives →

10. 10
    CodePen Patterns▲243

    A collection of design patterns & code for your project

    2014 · codepen.io · its alternatives →

11. 11
    Wake Annotations▲110

    A more powerful way to give design feedback

    2017 · its alternatives →

12. 12
    PaintCode 2▲89

    The missing bridge between developers and graphic designers

    2014 · paintcodeapp.com · its alternatives →

13. 13
    Duomage▲65

    Minimal dark theme for VS Code

    2021 · marketplace.visualstudio.com · its alternatives →

14. 14
    Codecademy▲72

    Learn to code interactively, for free

    2014 · codecademy.com · its alternatives →

15. 15
    QuartzCode▲83

    Vector Animation to Code

    2014 · quartzcodeapp.com · its alternatives →

16. 16
    Visual Studio 2015▲114

    A new iteration of one of the great IDEs

    2015 · visualstudio.microsoft.com · its alternatives →

17. 17
    Mental Notes▲127

    Bring a little psychology to Web design

    2014 · getmentalnotes.com · its alternatives →

18. 18
    Code▲76

    The Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software

    2016 · namecheap.com · its alternatives →

19. 19
    Code Words▲73

    A quarterly publication about programming from Hacker School

    2014 · codewords.recurse.com · its alternatives →

20. 20
    Studies▲3

    Visual programming studies

    2017 · wxs.ca · its alternatives →

21. 21
    Storybird▲77

    Visual storytelling and poetry writing

    2014 · storybird.com · its alternatives →

22. 22
    Real-Life UX Processes▲85

    Peek inside design at Slack, Autodesk, and others.

    2016 · uxpin.com · its alternatives →

23. 23
    CodeDammit▲140

    Learn programming by looking at real code examples

    2016 · codedammit.co · its alternatives →

24. 24
    Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code▲83

    Make bad design better w/o messing w ext code behavior

    2015 · amazon.com · its alternatives →

Ranked by how close each launch is in meaning, then by votes. Prices were read from each product’s own site when checked and can change. Refine with your own description →