Makers guide

Games, films, pets and small tools, published as HTML.

Download template · 8.7 KB Publish Post idea

Overview

Format: Offline HTML package (ZIP)
Entry: index.html at the root
Size: ZIP ≤ 150 MB
Cover: 16:10, ≤ 1 MB
Hooks: spareStart · sparePause · spareSnapshot
Review: By a person
Rights: Stay with the maker

Example: Hextris, GPL-3.0 open-source port

Package

Item	Requirement
Entry	index.html and manifest.json at the ZIP root
Paths	Relative only; no absolute paths, .. or remote URLs
Size	ZIP ≤ 150 MB
Network	Offline, no external scripts, no tracking
Sound	Muted by default, stops on pause
Width	Works at 320 px, keyboard and touch
Progress	JSON-serialisable snapshot, ideally < 16 KiB
Language	zh-Hans · en · fr, with a fallback
Leave out	node_modules, .git, keys, system files

manifest.json

{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "id": "com.example.tiny-garden",
  "name": "片刻花园",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "category": "plant",
  "entry": "index.html",
  "permissions": [],
  "storage": "local",
  "lifecycle": {
    "start": "spareStart",
    "pause": "sparePause",
    "snapshot": "spareSnapshot"
  }
}

Field	Meaning
`id`	Reverse domain or hyphenated unique id
`name`	Work name, same as the submission form
`version`	e.g. 1.0.0; bump on resubmission
`category`	game · pet · story · novel · plant · utility · other
`entry`	Relative path to the HTML file
`permissions`	Empty [] for now
`storage`	local or none
`lifecycle`	Names of the three hooks

Lifecycle hooks

Function	Called when	Returns
`spareStart(saved, language)`	AI starts generating; saved is the last snapshot or null	—
`sparePause()`	AI is done or the window hides; stop timers, animation and sound	Snapshot
`spareSnapshot()`	Progress needs saving	Small JSON object

// Called when AI starts generating, with the last saved progress
window.spareStart = (saved, language) => {
  state = saved ?? newGame();
  render(language);
};
// Called when AI is done or the window hides: stop animation and sound now
window.sparePause = () => {
  stopTimersAndAudio();
  return window.spareSnapshot();
};
// Return a small JSON-serialisable object to resume next time
window.spareSnapshot = () => ({ ...state });

Template

spare-plugin-starter.zip · ZIP · 8.7 KB · MIT

File	Purpose	Size
`index.html`	Entry, edit this	4.0 KB
`manifest.json`	Name, version, category	307 B
`preview.html`	Simulates Spare locally	3.3 KB
`README.md`	Full guide	6.8 KB
`LICENSE`	MIT	1.1 KB

Local preview

cd spare-plugin-starter
python3 -m http.server 8000
# http://localhost:8000/preview.html

Submit and review

MakeEdit index.html; test start, pause and resume in preview.html
SubmitUpload the ZIP, a 16:10 cover and a description; list asset sources and licences
ReviewChecked by a person: offline, no tracking, pauses, works at 320 px, assets licensed
LiveListed on the Works page under your name

Review status

Status	Meaning	Next
Pending	Waiting for review	—
Published	Listed on the Works page	Ask for removal anytime
Returned	Not accepted, reason given	Fix, bump the version, resubmit
Unpublished	No longer listed	Contact support@spare.cool

Licence

Case	Rule
You own it	Spare gets a licence to host and distribute it. Ask for removal anytime.
Licensed assets	You need rights to the code, images and music. List licences or sources in the README.
Open-source ports	Keep the original licence and credits and describe your changes. Hextris, for example, is GPL-3.0.
Template code	MIT. Modify and publish freely.

FAQ

Do I need to code?

No. AI can write it.

Who owns my work?

You do. Spare gets a licence to host and distribute it; you can ask for removal anytime.

Can it use the network?

No. No tracking or third-party scripts either.