917
I built an infinite pixel art canvas. People have drawn 416 million individual pixels on it.
r/SideProject
7/10/2025
Content Summary
A developer created an infinite collaborative pixel art canvas (everyonedraw.com) during COVID, which has grown to 416 million pixels. The stack uses JavaScript/Next.js frontend, Go backend, Postgres database, and Digital Ocean hosting. Key features include real-time collaboration, timelapse generation, and mobile apps. Challenges include moderation, technical scaling, and monetization. The project maintains organic growth through community engagement while keeping costs under $100/month.
Opinion Analysis
Mainstream opinions praise the project's creativity and nostalgic internet spirit. Technical discussions focus on database scaling strategies (row-per-pixel vs chunk storage) and rendering optimizations. Controversy exists around monetization approaches - while some suggest ads/NFTs, the creator prioritizes user experience over profit. Debate exists about originality vs r/place/pixelcanvas.io, though the creator emphasizes freedom over constraints. Community moderation effectiveness vs automation is another discussion point.
SAAS TOOLS
| SaaS | URL | Category | Features/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Ocean | https://www.digitalocean.com/ | Cloud Hosting | Hosting for backend and database |
| Postgres | https://www.postgresql.org/ | Database | Stores pixel data with timestamp, x, y, color |
| Next.js | https://nextjs.org/ | Frontend Framework | Used to wrap custom JavaScript |
| React Native | https://reactnative.dev/ | Mobile App Framework | Separate codebase for iOS/Android apps |
| Cloudflare | https://www.cloudflare.com/ | CDN/Security | Detected via extension (exact usage unspecified) |
USER NEEDS
Pain Points:
- High server/database storage costs for infinite canvas
- Constant moderation required to clean vandalism/bot activity
- Technical challenges in handling concurrent pixel updates
- Monetization struggles without annoying users with ads
Problems to Solve:
- Maintaining an infinitely scalable pixel canvas
- Preventing bot attacks and inappropriate content
- Handling real-time collaboration conflicts
- Funding server costs without compromising user experience
Potential Solutions:
- Opt-in ads with user benefits (e.g. reduced cooldown)
- Sponsored pixel zones for businesses
- Community moderation tools
- Efficient database modeling (Postgres row-per-pixel)
- Chunk-based rendering and caching systems
GROWTH FACTORS
Effective Strategies:
- Organic growth through community engagement
- Maintaining minimal viable infrastructure costs
Marketing & Acquisition:
- Product Hunt launch for initial traction
- Word-of-mouth virality through creative freedom
- Reddit community engagement
Monetization & Product:
- Potential premium features (private canvas spaces)
- Donation model with "buy me a coffee" option
- NFT-based collectibles (suggested by users)
User Engagement:
- Discord community for user interaction
- Timelapse feature showing art evolution
- Collaborative art creation mechanics
- Regular Reddit updates and engagement