StrictCodeIDE is a macOS code editor for C, C++, and Java with a real Exam Mode โ locks copy/paste, blocks switching apps, cuts internet access, runs a countdown timer, and caps compile/run attempts. Built it after realizing my school's "no cheating" policy for coding exams was just an honor system with zero enforcement. Free, no signup required.
No reviews yetBe the first to leave a review for StrictCodeIDE
Maker
๐
Hey everyone โ maker here ๐
Last semester I took a coding exam on my own laptop with literally just a "please don't google it" honor policy. No enforcement at all. Half the class ignored it. Felt pointless for everyone who didn't.
So I built StrictCodeIDE โ a real macOS code editor (C, C++, Java โ compiles and runs locally) with an actual Exam Mode: locks copy/paste, blocks switching apps, cuts internet access, runs a countdown timer, and caps how many times you can compile/run. Outside exam mode, it's just a normal lightweight IDE with a project sidebar and file management.
It's free, no signup required.
Would genuinely love feedback โ especially on edge cases I might be missing (what happens if the app crashes mid-exam, multi-monitor setups, etc). Happy to answer anything today!
Report
loved that exam mode actually blocks app switching and the compile cap is a nice touch. curious how it handles edge cases like kernel extensions or accidental force quit during a timed session.
Report
Maker
@talha6u9uย Good question โ right now it blocks the Force Quit shortcut (Cmd+Opt+Esc) and standard app-switching gestures via a CGEventTap, and logs any attempt with a timestamp. It's not kernel-level, so a determined user going through Activity Monitor to force-kill the process could still get around it โ that's a known limitation for any userspace tool, not just mine. For classroom use it's meant to raise the bar and create an audit trail, not be unbreakable DRM. If someone does force-quit, the session log shows exactly when and that gap is visible to the instructor.
Report
Maker
Also worth mentioning โ this isn't only for formal exams. Some people might find it useful just as a distraction-free environment for practicing, since it removes the temptation to app-switch or get pulled away while coding.
loved that exam mode actually blocks app switching and the compile cap is a nice touch. curious how it handles edge cases like kernel extensions or accidental force quit during a timed session.
@talha6u9uย Good question โ right now it blocks the Force Quit shortcut (Cmd+Opt+Esc) and standard app-switching gestures via a CGEventTap, and logs any attempt with a timestamp. It's not kernel-level, so a determined user going through Activity Monitor to force-kill the process could still get around it โ that's a known limitation for any userspace tool, not just mine. For classroom use it's meant to raise the bar and create an audit trail, not be unbreakable DRM. If someone does force-quit, the session log shows exactly when and that gap is visible to the instructor.
Also worth mentioning โ this isn't only for formal exams. Some people might find it useful just as a distraction-free environment for practicing, since it removes the temptation to app-switch or get pulled away while coding.