What to know

  • Glitch, the collaborative coding platform, announced it will shut down after operating for 7 years.
  • Users have 90 days to export their projects before the platform becomes inaccessible.
  • The company cited financial challenges as the main reason for the shutdown.

Glitch, the popular web-based coding platform that allowed users to create and collaborate on web apps, announced it will be shutting down. The platform, which launched in 2016, will give users 90 days to export their projects before closing permanently.

The announcement came through an email sent to users and a notice posted on the company's website. Glitch CEO Anil Dash explained that despite efforts to keep the platform running, financial challenges made it impossible to continue operations.

"We've explored every possible option to keep Glitch going, including potential acquisitions and new funding rounds, but ultimately couldn't find a sustainable path forward," Dash wrote in the announcement.

Glitch became popular among developers for its simplicity and collaborative features. The platform allowed you to create web applications without needing to set up servers or complex development environments. It was particularly useful for beginners and for quick prototyping.

The company has released a data export tool that lets you download your projects. You can access this tool through your account dashboard. All projects must be exported within the next 90 days, after which they will no longer be accessible.

Glitch was acquired by Fog Creek Software (later renamed Fog Creek) in 2017, and then spun out as an independent company in 2018. The platform had previously raised $30 million in funding.

Several alternatives exist for developers looking for new homes for their projects, including CodePen, Replit, and GitHub Codespaces. However, none offer the exact same combination of features that made Glitch unique.

The shutdown marks the end of a platform that helped democratize web development and made coding more accessible to people without technical backgrounds.

The company says it will provide support during the transition period to help users migrate their projects to other platforms. You can contact their support team through the help center for assistance with exports or migration questions.

Via: theverge.com