Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the core features of CreateThisApp are free to use. This includes:

• Account creation and management
• Submitting app ideas
• Participating in public hackathons
• Forming and joining teams
• Participating in community discussions

Some premium features may be introduced in the future, but our commitment is to keep the essential functionality free and accessible to all users.

CreateThisApp supports a wide range of application types and technologies, including:

• Web Applications: Frontend, backend, or full-stack web applications using technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular, Vue, Node.js, PHP, Python, etc.
• Mobile Applications: iOS, Android, or cross-platform mobile applications using technologies like Swift, Kotlin, React Native, Flutter, etc.
• Desktop Applications: Windows, macOS, or Linux applications using technologies like Electron, .NET, Java, Python, etc.
• Games: Web-based, mobile, or desktop games using technologies like Unity, Unreal Engine, Godot, or web technologies.
• API Services: RESTful APIs, GraphQL APIs, or other service-oriented architectures.

There are no strict limitations on the types of applications you can build, but we do have community guidelines that prohibit harmful or illegal content.

CreateThisApp differentiates itself through its unique combination of features:

• Idea-to-Implementation Pipeline: Unlike platforms that focus on either ideation or development, we provide a complete pipeline from idea validation through development and showcasing.
• Community-Driven Feedback: Get real feedback from actual developers and potential users before investing significant time in development.
• Structured Hackathons: Our hackathon framework provides time-bound motivation with clear objectives and potential rewards.
• Team Formation Tools: We make it easy to find collaborators with complementary skills, whether for hackathons or long-term projects.
• Technology Agnostic: We don't limit you to specific technologies or frameworks, allowing you to use what works best for your project.

CreateThisApp was developed by a team of developers and designers passionate about fostering innovation in app development. The platform was born from the recognition of several key challenges in the app development ecosystem:

• The difficulty in validating app ideas before investing significant resources
• The challenge of finding skilled collaborators for development projects
• The need for structured, time-bound motivation to complete projects
• The importance of community feedback throughout the development process

Our team continues to develop and maintain the platform with a focus on creating a vibrant, supportive community for app creators of all experience levels.

If you can't find the answer to your question in these FAQs, there are several ways to get help:

• Contact Form: Fill out our contact form with your question for direct assistance from our team.
• Community Forums: Post your question in the community forums, where other users and staff members can provide help.
• Documentation: Browse our documentation for detailed guides on using the platform.
• Tutorials: Check our tutorials for step-by-step guides on specific features.

We typically respond to questions within 1-2 business days, though community responses may come sooner.

While only a username and email are required to create an account, we strongly recommend completing your profile with the following information:

• Profile Picture: A clear, professional image helps build trust with potential collaborators.
• Bio: A brief description of yourself, your background, and your interests in app development.
• Skills: List your technical and non-technical skills, such as programming languages, design tools, project management, etc.
• Experience Level: Indicate whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced developer.
• GitHub/Portfolio Links: Add links to your GitHub profile, personal website, or portfolio to showcase your previous work.
• Social Media Links: Optionally connect your professional social media accounts.

A complete profile significantly increases your chances of finding team members and being invited to collaborate on projects.

If you've forgotten your password, you can reset it by following these steps:

1. Go to the login page.
2. Click the "Forgot Password?" link below the login form.
3. Enter the email address associated with your account.
4. Check your email for a password reset link (check your spam folder if you don't see it).
5. Click on the reset link and enter a new password.

If you're already logged in and want to change your password:

1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select the "Security" tab.
3. Enter your current password and your desired new password.
4. Click "Update Password".

Yes, CreateThisApp supports several types of account connections:

• GitHub: Connecting your GitHub account allows for seamless sharing of repositories for project submissions and hackathons. It also helps other users to see your coding activity and contributions.
• Google: You can use your Google account for quicker login and account verification.
• Social Media Profiles: You can add links to your LinkedIn, Twitter, and other professional social media accounts to your profile to help build your professional network.

To connect these accounts:

1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select the "Connected Accounts" tab.
3. Click on the buttons for the services you wish to connect.
4. Follow the authentication process for each service.

You can disconnect these services at any time through the same interface.

Updating Email Address:

1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select the "Account" tab.
3. Enter your new email address in the "Email" field.
4. Enter your current password to confirm the change.
5. Click "Update Email".
6. Verify your new email address by clicking the link sent to your new email inbox.

Updating Username:

1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select the "Account" tab.
3. Enter your desired new username in the "Username" field.
4. Enter your current password to confirm the change.
5. Click "Update Username".

We're sorry to see you go! If you'd like to delete your account, please follow these steps:

1. Go to your profile settings.
2. Select the "Account" tab.
3. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the "Delete Account" section.
4. Click the "Delete My Account" button.
5. Enter your password to confirm the deletion request.
6. Read the information about what will happen when you delete your account and check the confirmation box.
7. Click "Confirm Deletion".

If you're facing issues with the platform, please consider contacting us before deleting your account. We'd appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

By default, all app ideas submitted to CreateThisApp are publicly visible to the entire community. This includes:

• Registered users of the platform
• Non-registered visitors browsing the public sections of the site
• Search engines (ideas may be indexed and appear in search results)

This public visibility is intentional and beneficial because:

• It allows you to get feedback from a diverse audience
• It enables developers to discover your idea and potentially implement it
• It helps validate market interest through view counts and upvotes

Privacy Options:

If you have concerns about publicly sharing your idea, you have a few options:

• Limited Details: Share the general concept but withhold specific implementation details or proprietary aspects.
• Private Projects: For project requests, you can mark certain details as "visible to interested developers only," which will only be revealed to users who express formal interest in developing your project.
• NDAs: For commercial project requests, you can indicate that you require an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) before sharing complete details. This will be shown on your idea page.

Getting quality feedback on your app idea is one of the key benefits of CreateThisApp. Here are several ways to maximize the feedback you receive:

• Provide Complete Information: The more details you provide about your idea, the more specific and valuable feedback you'll receive. Include information about the target audience, key features, and potential technical challenges.
• Ask Specific Questions: In your idea description, include specific questions you'd like feedback on (e.g., "Do you think feature X is necessary?" or "What would be the best technology stack for this?").
• Promote Your Idea: Share the link to your idea page on social media or relevant forums to attract more viewers and potential feedback.
• Engage with Commenters: Respond to comments and questions about your idea promptly. This encourages ongoing discussion and shows that you value the feedback.
• Join Community Discussions: Participate in the community forums related to your idea's category. This helps build your network and increases visibility for your idea.
• Consider Hackathon Submission: If appropriate, consider submitting your idea for a hackathon, which will place it directly in front of developers looking for projects to build.

Types of Feedback You Might Receive:

• Upvotes/Downvotes: A quick indicator of general interest in your idea.
• Comments: Detailed feedback, questions, or suggestions about your idea.
• Improvement Suggestions: Specific suggestions to enhance or refine your idea.
• Implementation Attempts: Developers may create prototypes or full implementations based on your idea.
• Similar Existing Solutions: Community members might point out similar existing apps or services, which can help you differentiate your idea.

On CreateThisApp, we distinguish between two types of submissions:

How to Choose:

When submitting, you'll be asked to specify whether your submission is an idea or a project request. Consider:

• Are you prepared to invest financially in developing this app?
• Do you have specific ownership requirements?
• Are you looking for a committed development team rather than just feedback?
• Do you have a specific timeline for implementation?

If you answered "yes" to most of these questions, you should consider submitting a project request rather than just an idea.

Upvotes are a way for the community to show interest in or support for an app idea. Here's how the upvoting system works:

• Who Can Upvote: Any registered user can upvote an idea once. You must be logged in to upvote.
• How to Upvote: Simply click the upvote button (usually a thumbs-up or arrow icon) on an idea's page or in the idea listing.
• Canceling Upvotes: You can remove your upvote by clicking the upvote button again.
• Visibility: The total number of upvotes an idea has received is publicly visible.

The Significance of Upvotes:

• Idea Validation: A high number of upvotes suggests that many users find the idea interesting or valuable.
• Visibility Boost: Ideas with more upvotes tend to appear higher in "Popular Ideas" listings.
• Hackathon Selection: Ideas with high upvote counts are more likely to be selected for hackathons.
• Developer Interest: Developers often look at upvote counts when deciding which ideas to implement.

When a developer or team implements your app idea on CreateThisApp, several things happen:

1. Implementation Submission: The developer creates an "implementation attempt" linked to your idea, which includes:
   • A title and description of their implementation
   • Links to GitHub repositories, demo sites, or app stores where the application is available
   • Screenshots or videos demonstrating the implementation
2. Notification: You'll receive an email notification and an in-platform alert that someone has implemented your idea.
3. Review Option: As the idea submitter, you can review the implementation and provide feedback.
4. Status Update: Your idea's status will change from "Open" to "Has Implementations" in the idea listings.

Ownership and Rights:

• For general ideas (not project requests), the developer who implements the idea typically retains ownership of their implementation.
• The CreateThisApp platform does not automatically transfer any rights between idea submitters and implementers.
• If your idea was submitted as a project request with specific terms, those terms would apply as agreed upon between you and the developer.

Collaboration Opportunities:

If you're interested in collaborating with the developer who implemented your idea, you can:

• Contact them through the platform's messaging system
• Propose further refinements or features
• Discuss potential partnership arrangements if you're interested in commercializing the app

Registering for a hackathon on CreateThisApp is a straightforward process:

1. Browse Available Hackathons: Go to the Hackathons page and browse the active and upcoming events.
2. Select a Hackathon: Click on a hackathon that interests you to view its details page.
3. Review the Details: Check the hackathon's:
   • Registration deadline
   • Submission deadline
   • Rules and requirements
   • Prize information
   • Target idea(s) to be implemented
4. Register: Click the "Register for Hackathon" button on the hackathon details page.
5. Team Decision: Choose whether you want to:
   • Create a new team (and become the team leader)
   • Register as an individual participant
   • Join an existing team (if you have an invitation or if the team is open)
6. Complete Registration: Fill out any additional required information and submit your registration.

After Registration:

• You'll receive a confirmation email.
• The hackathon will appear in your "My Hackathons" dashboard.
• If you're a team leader, you'll have access to team management options.
• You'll receive updates and announcements about the hackathon.

Team collaboration is a key aspect of hackathons on CreateThisApp. Here's how the team system works:

Team Formation Options:

• Individual Participation: You can participate alone if you prefer to work independently.
• Create a Team: You can form a new team and become its leader.
• Join a Team: You can join an existing team if invited or if the team is accepting new members.

Team Sizes:

• Each hackathon specifies minimum and maximum team sizes (typically between 1-5 members).
• Teams must meet the size requirements by the registration deadline to be eligible.

Team Leader Responsibilities:

• Sending invitations to potential team members
• Accepting or declining join requests
• Managing team information and profiles
• Submitting the final project on behalf of the team
• Coordinating with team members regarding project direction

Team Member Responsibilities:

• Contributing to the project according to team agreements
• Communicating effectively with team members
• Adhering to the hackathon rules and deadlines

Team Communication:

Each team gets access to:

• A private team chat within the platform
• A shared project workspace for code and assets
• Task management tools for coordinating work

Finding Team Members:

If you're looking to form a team, you can:

• Post in the "Team Formation" section of the Community forums
• Invite friends or colleagues directly via email or platform username
• Browse profiles of users who have indicated they're looking for teams

Submission Process:

1. Project Development: During the hackathon period, teams work on developing their implementation of the target idea.
2. Submission Form: Before the submission deadline, the team leader must complete the submission form, which typically includes:
   • Project title and description
   • GitHub repository link (must be public)
   • Demo URL (if applicable)
   • Installation/usage instructions
   • Screenshots or demo video
   • List of technologies used
   • Team member contributions (optional)
3. Deadline: All submissions must be completed before the submission deadline specified in the hackathon details.
4. Confirmation: After submission, teams receive a confirmation and their project appears in the hackathon submissions gallery.

Judging Methods:

Depending on the hackathon, one of these judging methods will be used:

Judging Criteria:

Most hackathons evaluate submissions based on:

• Functionality: Does the implementation work as intended and fulfill the core requirements?
• Innovation: Does the solution include creative or unique approaches?
• User Experience: Is the application intuitive and pleasant to use?
• Technical Implementation: Is the code well-structured, efficient, and maintainable?
• Completeness: How fully-featured is the implementation?

Specific criteria and their weightings are always listed in the hackathon details.

After a hackathon concludes and winners are announced, there are several paths for the projects:

Project Showcase:

• All hackathon submissions remain publicly viewable in the hackathon gallery.
• Winners are highlighted on the platform's showcase page.
• Projects may be featured in platform newsletters or social media.

Continued Development:

Many teams choose to continue developing their projects after the hackathon:

• Some teams expand features and polish their applications.
• Projects may evolve into long-term open-source initiatives.
• Some particularly successful projects have become startups or commercial products.

Idea Implementation Status:

• The original idea that inspired the hackathon is updated to show that implementations exist.
• Links to the hackathon and winning projects are added to the idea page.

Intellectual Property:

• Unless specified otherwise in the hackathon rules, teams retain ownership of their code and creations.
• Most hackathon projects use open-source licenses, but this is up to each team.
• The original idea submitter doesn't automatically gain ownership rights to implementations, unless this was arranged previously.

Portfolio Building:

• Participants can add their hackathon projects to their portfolios and resumes.
• CreateThisApp provides participation certificates upon request.
• Project links and descriptions are available on user profiles.

If you're particularly proud of your hackathon project and want to highlight it, you can also submit it to the "Project Showcase" section of the platform, where it can receive additional visibility beyond just the hackathon context.

Teams on CreateThisApp have a structured role system to help organize collaboration. Each role comes with different permissions and responsibilities:

Changing Roles:

To change a team member's role:

1. The Team Leader or Co-Leader goes to the team management page
2. Selects "Manage Members" option
3. Finds the member in the list
4. Uses the dropdown menu next to their name to change their role
5. Confirms the change

Team Leadership Transfer:

If a Team Leader needs to transfer leadership to another member:

1. Go to the team management page
2. Select "Transfer Leadership" option
3. Choose the team member to promote
4. Confirm the transfer
5. The original leader automatically becomes a Co-Leader

CreateThisApp provides several built-in tools to help teams collaborate effectively on projects:

External Tool Integration:

In addition to built-in tools, teams can connect various external services:

• GitHub: Link GitHub repositories to team projects for code management
• Figma/Adobe XD: Connect design tools for collaborative design work
• Google Drive: Integrate shared documents and spreadsheets
• Slack: Optional integration for teams that prefer Slack for communication

Accessing Team Workspaces:

1. Log into your CreateThisApp account
2. Navigate to "My Teams" in the dashboard or header menu
3. Select the team you want to access
4. Click on the "Team Workspace" button
5. Use the navigation tabs to access different collaboration tools

Building a strong reputation in the CreateThisApp community opens doors to collaboration opportunities, increases the visibility of your ideas, and helps establish your expertise. Here's how to build your reputation:

Reputation Metrics:

Your community reputation is measured through several metrics:

• Contribution Score: Points earned through forum posts, comments, and content creation
• Helpful Votes: When others mark your contributions as helpful
• Implementation Count: Number of app ideas you've successfully implemented
• Hackathon Achievements: Participation and wins in platform hackathons
• Tenure: Length of active membership on the platform

Community Badges and Levels:

As you build reputation, you'll earn badges and advance through community levels:

Specialist Badges:

You can also earn specialized badges for expertise in particular areas:

• Idea Validator: Consistently providing quality feedback on app ideas
• Code Guru: Helping others with technical challenges
• UI/UX Specialist: Recognized for design contributions and feedback
• Hackathon Star: Multiple hackathon wins or placements
• Community Builder: Fostering positive interactions and helping newcomers

There are many ways to contribute to and strengthen the CreateThisApp community beyond just participating in discussions. Here are some impactful ways to get involved:

Specific Contribution Opportunities:

1. Community Challenges: Participate in or propose coding challenges and activities that engage multiple members.
2. Resource Library: Submit quality resources to our community library of tutorials, code snippets, and references.
3. Project Showcases: Host virtual "show and tell" sessions where members can present their work.
4. Technical Blogs: Write guest posts for the platform blog about your experiences or technical insights.
5. Platform Improvement: Suggest and help implement new features or improvements to the platform itself.
6. Documentation: Help improve and expand the platform's documentation and help resources.
7. Hackathon Judging: Volunteer as a community judge for hackathons (requires Expert status).

Becoming a Community Leader:

Members who consistently make valuable contributions may be invited to take on formal community leadership roles:

• Category Moderators: Help maintain quality and foster discussion in specific forum categories
• Community Advisors: Provide input on platform development and community initiatives
• Mentorship Program Leaders: Coordinate structured mentoring relationships
• Event Coordinators: Lead online events, AMAs, or specialized discussions