What's wrong?
- I haven't set up Hackatime yet
- My Hackatime dashboard shows no time
- My project isn't in the Stardance dropdown
- Hackatime has my hours but Stardance doesn't
- I can't post a devlog
Setting up Hackatime
Log in to Stardance first, then connect your Hackatime account from your project page.
If you haven't used Hackatime before, go to hackatime.hackclub.com, sign in with your Hack Club account, and follow the setup instructions for your editor.
Hackatime tracks time through a plugin in your code editor (VS Code, JetBrains, Vim, etc). You need to install the plugin and make sure it's enabled. Just connecting your account on Stardance is not enough.
Nothing on the Hackatime dashboard?
First, open hackatime.hackclub.com and check if any time has been logged. If nothing shows up, the problem is your editor plugin. Stardance can't help with this part.
Check the API URL
Most common mistake. Your plugin needs to point at
https://hackatime.hackclub.com/api, not the default WakaTime URL.
Look for "API URL" or "Base URL" in the plugin settings.
Check the API key
Go to Hackatime settings, copy your API key, and compare it to what's in your plugin. If you're unsure, rotate the key on the site and paste the new one into your plugin.
Is the plugin actually running?
In VS Code and JetBrains, look for a small WakaTime icon in the status bar. No icon means it's not running.
In Godot, you need to install the plugin and enable it in Project > Project Settings > Plugins. Installing alone isn't enough.
Was working before, now it stopped?
Uninstall the plugin, rotate your API key on the Hackatime site, reinstall the plugin, paste the new key. This fixes it most of the time.
Just set it up?
Heartbeats are batched. Code for 5-10 minutes before checking the dashboard.
Project not in the dropdown?
Projects with zero time are hidden
The dropdown only shows Hackatime projects with tracked time after June 1. Open the project in your editor, write some code, wait a few minutes, and try again.
The name might not be what you expect
Hackatime uses your editor workspace or folder name, not what you named the project on Stardance. If you renamed a folder, the old name keeps the hours and the new name starts at zero. Check your Hackatime dashboard for the actual project name.
OnShape, KiCad, or other hardware tools?
For hardware projects, use the built-in recording tool on Stardance (Lookout) to make a timelapse. Select "Hardware" when creating your project to enable it.
Hackatime has hours, Stardance doesn't?
Check your accounts
This is the #1 cause. Go to hackatime.hackclub.com and check what email you're logged in with. It needs to match your Hack Club / Stardance account.
If your emails are different and you can't switch back, ask in #stardance-help on Slack.
Time before June 1 doesn't count
Stardance only counts time logged after the program start date (June 1, 2026). Everything before that is ignored.
Wrong project linked?
Hackatime uses your folder name as the project name. Check your dashboard for the exact name and make sure that's the one linked on your Stardance project.
Connection expired?
Go to Settings (gear icon in the sidebar) and hit Reconnect under the Hackatime section.
"Already connected to a different account"?
Ask in #hackatime-help on Slack.
Can't post a devlog?
"Could not load coding time"
Your Hackatime connection probably expired. Go to Settings (gear icon in the sidebar) and hit Reconnect under the Hackatime section, then try again.
Hours only get logged when you devlog
Your tracked time doesn't count until you write a devlog. That "X will be logged" number on the home page is time waiting for your next devlog to capture it.
15-minute minimum
You need at least 15 minutes of tracked time since your last devlog to post a new one. Under 15 minutes? Keep going.
Time resets each devlog
Each devlog captures time since your previous devlog, not your total. If you posted 20 minutes ago and coded for 5 minutes since, you'll see 5 minutes.
Just linked a new project?
Time from a newly linked Hackatime project only counts from your next devlog onward. Hours tracked before you linked it won't appear retroactively.
Other stuff
Multiple devices
Works fine. Install the plugin on each computer with the same API key. Same folder name = same Hackatime project.
Multiple Hackatime projects
You can link several Hackatime projects to one Stardance project (frontend + backend, etc). The devlog composer adds all of them together. Each Hackatime project can only be linked to one Stardance project at a time.
Still stuck?
Ask in #stardance-help or #hackatime-help on the Hack Club Slack.