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YoloCorp is a backend engineering practice platform where you build complete systems with persistent data, evolving requirements, and a corporate satire storyline. Unlike algorithm-focused platforms, YoloCorp has you design APIs, manage databases, handle Docker deployments, and maintain systems over time.
Think: LeetCode for system design and backend engineering, with a story.
LeetCode/HackerRank/CodeWars focus on algorithms and isolated coding problems. Great for interview prep.
YoloCorp focuses on building complete backend systems with:
See detailed comparisons:
Perfect for:
Also great for:
Yes, YoloCorp is free to use. Download the CLI and start practicing.
Yes, to track your progress and unlock episodes. Sign up with GitHub OAuth when you run the CLI.
yolo enroll to choose and enroll in a projectyolo deploy to testSee our full documentation for detailed flow.
Required:
Your choice:
Basic Docker knowledge helps, but YoloCorp is actually a great way to learn Docker and DevOps. You'll write Dockerfiles and Docker Compose configs as you go.
Start simple (single-service setup) and add complexity over time.
Any language for your backend: Node.js, Python, Go, Rust, Java, C#, Ruby, PHP, Elixir - whatever you prefer.
The client interface is TypeScript (provided by the CLI), but your backend can be anything that runs in Docker.
Start with a simple tech stack you're comfortable with:
YoloCorp provides the requirements; you choose your implementation. Episodes start simple and build complexity gradually.
Each project is divided into sequential episodes:
Episode 1: Basic requirements, build your initial system Episode 2-9: New requirements added, must evolve your system Episode 10: Final challenge incorporating everything
Each episode:
Data persists! This is a core feature.
Your database volumes are saved between episodes. When episode 5 requires a new feature, you must migrate your episode 1-4 data to support it.
This simulates real production engineering where you can't "just start over."
Tests are downloaded when you run yolo deploy. They're in your project directory.
Tests are black-box integration tests - they exercise your system through the client interface without caring about your implementation details.
Everything runs locally in Docker. No remote execution.
Yes! Use whatever fits the requirements:
You define your storage strategy in user-compose.yml.
Yes! REST, GraphQL, RPC, gRPC - your choice.
YoloCorp only tests the client interface behavior. How you implement it (framework, patterns, architecture) is entirely up to you.
Absolutely! You can define multiple services in user-compose.yml:
As long as your client can communicate with your services via the Docker network yolo-network.
Episode 1: Manageable for anyone with basic programming skills Episodes 3-5: Requires understanding of APIs and databases Episodes 7-10: Real engineering challenges with migrations and complex requirements
Difficulty grows gradually. Early episodes teach foundational concepts.
Varies widely:
Depends on your experience and architectural choices.
Debugging strategies:
docker logs <service-name>toImplement.tsNo official support, but problem-solving is part of the learning. Real production debugging.
Yes! You can:
This is how you discover what works and what doesn't.
No. Episodes must be completed sequentially because:
This simulates real systems that evolve over time.
Locally on your machine in Docker containers:
No remote servers. You have full control.
Via Docker network yolo-network:
Example: If your service is named backend, the client reaches it at http://backend:3000.
The client waits for your backend to be healthy before running tests. This ensures:
Implement a /health endpoint that returns 200 when ready.
Yes! Define them in user-compose.yml:
services:
backend:
environment:
DATABASE_URL: postgres://db:5432/app
API_KEY: your-key
Volumes are saved in .snapshots/ directory after passing each episode. These are restored when you continue.
Don't delete .snapshots/ - it contains your persistent data!
Yes, on YoloCorp servers. When you complete episodes:
.snapshots/ saved to diskyolo deployPartially:
yolo deploy requires internet to submit progressYes! Your code is yours:
Many developers showcase YoloCorp projects as portfolio pieces.
Yes! Each project lives in its own directory. You can have multiple projects in progress.
Run yolo check-episode to download the latest episode when available.
If you're on the latest published episode, YoloCorp will tell you when the next one releases.
Yes, for system design interviews! See Backend Interview Prep.
You'll practice:
Absolutely! See Junior Backend Developer Practice.
YoloCorp bridges the gap between tutorials and real production work. Start simple, grow complexity.
Yes! See Frontend to Backend Transition.
You already understand APIs from the client side. YoloCorp teaches the server side with progressive difficulty.
Very much! See Learn System Design.
You'll make real architectural decisions, experience trade-offs, and build systems from requirements - not just read about them.
Check our full documentation for detailed technical information.
Ready to start? Download the CLI and begin your first project.