CodeMortem 2.0: 1v1 Duels & Learning
A competitive programming platform featuring real-time matchmaking, Glicko-2 ratings, and a highly polished interactive learning engine.
The Motivation
Why I built CodeMortem
I have a deep interest in competitive programming, but when I was learning advanced algorithms, I noticed a recurring problem: the resources were plentiful, but they were rarely structured or interactive.
I wanted to build a platform that didn't just dump walls of text on the user. CodeMortem 2.0 was designed to bridge this gap by combining interactive, structured learning modules with the thrill of real-time 1v1 algorithmic duels.
Core Features
- Real-time Matchmaking: Fast queues powered by Redis and Go WebSockets.
- Live Arena: Integrated @monaco-editor/react with Judge0 CE Cloud API for secure multi-language code execution.
- Competitive Ratings: Glicko-2 rating system to accurately rank players based on 1v1 duel outcomes.
Learning Engine
Interactive & Rich Lesson Primitives
Lessons in CodeMortem are not standard text. I built a custom RichLessonPrimitives system to teach complex concepts like Segment Trees or Heavy-Light Decomposition.
Content is authored in specialized blocks supporting diagrams, code, and callouts (insights, warnings). I also wrote a custom markdown parser that dynamically handles syntax like base^exp to correctly render math superscripts directly inside React components using KaTeX.
Module Highlights
- Custom Formatter: Inline markdown and dynamic math parsing (react-markdown + katex).
- MCQ Checkpoints: Interactive multiple-choice questions integrated directly into the reading flow.
- Avoids "Walls of Text": Uses dynamic callouts, rules, and gotchas to keep engagement high.
Architecture
High-Concurrency Backend
The platform demands extreme speed for live duels. The backend is written in Go 1.26 using the Fiber framework, which provides a massive performance boost and a low memory footprint.
Real-time communication is handled by gofiber/contrib/websocket. The system is containerized with Docker, utilizing PostgreSQL for persistent storage and Redis for caching, session management, and fast matchmaking queues.
Infrastructure
- Stateless Auth: Handled securely via JWT and bcrypt password hashing.
- Database Migrations: Managed seamlessly using the golang-migrate CLI.
- Containerized: Full docker-compose setup for local development.
Tech Stack