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StrictCodeIDE is a macOS code editor for C, C++, and Java with a real Exam Mode — locks copy/paste, blocks switching apps, cuts internet access, runs a countdown timer, and caps compile/run attempts. Built it after realizing my school's "no cheating" policy for coding exams was just an honor system with zero enforcement. Free, no signup required.
Hey everyone — maker here 👋
Last semester I took a coding exam on my own laptop with literally just a "please don't google it" honor policy. No enforcement at all. Half the class ignored it. Felt pointless for everyone who didn't.
So I built StrictCodeIDE — a real macOS code editor (C, C++, Java — compiles and runs locally) with an actual Exam Mode: locks copy/paste, blocks switching apps, cuts internet access, runs a countdown timer, and caps how many times you can compile/run. Outside exam mode, it's just a normal lightweight IDE with a project sidebar and file management.
It's free, no signup required.
Would genuinely love feedback — especially on edge cases I might be missing (what happens if the app crashes mid-exam, multi-monitor setups, etc). Happy to answer anything today!
loved that exam mode actually blocks app switching and the compile cap is a nice touch. curious how it handles edge cases like kernel extensions or accidental force quit during a timed session.
the exam mode actually locks you out of everything which is kind of scary but exactly what schools need. compile attempt cap is a smart touch too
Also worth mentioning — this isn't only for formal exams. Some people might find it useful just as a distraction-free environment for practicing, since it removes the temptation to app-switch or get pulled away while coding.
About StrictCodeIDE on Product Hunt
“A code editor where nothing else gets in”
StrictCodeIDE was submitted on Product Hunt and earned 11 upvotes and 6 comments, placing #56 on the daily leaderboard. StrictCodeIDE is a macOS code editor for C, C++, and Java with a real Exam Mode — locks copy/paste, blocks switching apps, cuts internet access, runs a countdown timer, and caps compile/run attempts. Built it after realizing my school's "no cheating" policy for coding exams was just an honor system with zero enforcement. Free, no signup required.
StrictCodeIDE was featured in Mac (103.6k followers), Education (78.8k followers), Developer Tools (515.9k followers) and GitHub (41.3k followers) on Product Hunt. Together, these topics include over 140.6k products, making this a competitive space to launch in.
Who hunted StrictCodeIDE ?
StrictCodeIDE was hunted by Shrish. A “hunter” on Product Hunt is the community member who submits a product to the platform — uploading the images, the link, and tagging the makers behind it. Hunters typically write the first comment explaining why a product is worth attention, and their followers are notified the moment they post. Around 79% of featured launches on Product Hunt are self-hunted by their makers, but a well-known hunter still acts as a signal of quality to the rest of the community. See the full all-time top hunters leaderboard to discover who is shaping the Product Hunt ecosystem.
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Shrish