A programming game · In development

The Developer Was Replaced

Everyone else in the office was replaced. You're the last developer in the building. Write Python-like code, walk from desk to desk, and program every laptop. Automate your job before the AI does. Spoiler: it does.

Download for Windows See how it plays Free early build · v0.1.0 · 297 MB

main — ✕

# Monday, 9:00. The office is empty.
while True:
    for i in range(get_world_size()):
        if can_program():
            program()
        move(North)
    move(East)

press ▶ to run0 ticks

Your job, as a while loop

There are no levels. You start with one desk and one function. Everything you earn goes into the unlock tree, and the unlock tree gives you more of the language itself.

01 · Program

Check the laptop, ship the ticket

Is the laptop still compiling? can_program() tells you. When it's ready, program() turns the ticket into Story Points.

02 · Unlock

Buy the next piece of Python

At first you don't even have while. Then come loops, variables, operators, functions, lists, imports, and more desks to walk to.

03 · Optimize

Every move costs ticks

Walking and programming cost 200 ticks. Checking a sensor costs 1. Fast code means a fast developer. Slow code means a long afternoon.

An open-plan office, floating in the void

Empty desks, abandoned chairs and laptops that turn green when they need you. Watch your code run line by line while the developer runs between stations.

A 4 by 4 grid of office desks on a floating island. A code window on the left highlights the line that is currently running. — Mid-game: sixteen desks, one developer, one `while True`.

The first day: a single desk with a laptop, a sticky note and the developer in an orange hoodie. — Day one: one desk, one ticket, one function.

# the rubber duck is the only one left who listens
pet_the_rubber_duck()
print("it works on my machine")
do_a_flip()

Yes, there is a backflip function. No, it is not productive.

The API of a developer

A small Python-like language with an in-game editor, step-by-step execution and errors that point at the right line. Your files are plain .py on disk, so you can also edit them in your own editor.

can_program()Is this laptop ready, or still compiling?

program()Ship the task on the current laptop.

move(North)Walk to the next desk. The office wraps around.

assign(Entities.Feature)Give a laptop something bigger to build.

get_entity_type()What's on this laptop right now?

num_items(Items.Commits)Count your Story Points, Commits and Deploys.

unlock(Unlocks.Speed)Buy upgrades from your own code.

setup_env()Install the IDE, Docker and 14 browser extensions.

spawn_agent(work)Hire an AI agent. It never sleeps. You can see where this is going.

pet_the_rubber_duck()Explain the bug out loud. Takes one second.

The unlock tree

Story Points from tickets, Commits from features, Deploys from microservices. Spend them on the language, more desks, more speed, and the last node on the tree.

Loopsunlocked

Expand 2/4more empty desks

Speed 1/560 Story Points

Variables25 Story Points

Operators50 Story Points

Features60 Story Points

Functions40 Commits

Microservices50 Commits

Lists80 Commits

Import20 Deploys

AI Agentscoming soon

Download the early build

The first playable version: one office, thirteen unlocks, a whole programming language and a rubber duck. Free while it's in development.

Download for Windows (297 MB)

Version0.1.0
PlatformWindows 10/11, 64-bit
GraphicsDirectX 12 GPU
Install sizeabout 450 MB

Unzip TheDeveloperWasReplaced-0.1.0-win64.zip anywhere.
Run DevReplaced.exe inside the TheDeveloperWasReplaced folder.
If Windows SmartScreen warns about an unknown publisher, click More info → Run anyway. The early build isn't code-signed yet.
Missing a Visual C++ runtime? Run Engine\Extras\Redist\en-us\vc_redist.x64.exe from the same folder.

Your progress and code files are saved in %LOCALAPPDATA%\DevReplaced.

You automate the tickets. Then the features. Then the deploys. Then there's only one thing left in the office to automate: you.