This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Siddharth
Context
Our company has organized "Secret Santa", pre-covid times. I got the name of a nerdy colleague and a friend. I decided to gift him Amazon gift coupon. Like people usually do - hiding gift somewhere in desk, I instead created an online puzzle like a treasure hunt using some automation. If he solves he will receive gift on his email.
Starting Point
- Printed a bar code on a paper and put it on my friend's workstation desk. Upon scanning, it redirects to a simple website I've created using wixsite.com. Here's the picture of printed barcode along with other gifts -
- The landing page shows following instruction -
- To get your gift all you need is an email address.
Don't scroll! Take the challenge
Before I tell you more, why don't you give a try yourself to find the email address? Here's the link after scanning barcode - https://turantsephele.wixsite.com/giftgenerator
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Finding hints to find the email address
- Once you click "Get email address", it redirects you to another page which shows a timer and nothing else. And with a small hidden button somewhere in page.
- If you are able to find the button and click, it redirects you to brainfuck visualizer with some pre-populated code.
- I've written this code in brainfuck and when you run it outputs next hint.
Final Hint
- That brainfuck code outputs a simple string -
Decode:747572616e7473657068656c6540676d61696c2e636f6d- After decoding, it gives you the email address.
Automation for sending gift coupon
- I have created a IFTTT flow which triggers when there is an incoming email with subject "HOG RIEEDERRRRR" and it is from my friend's email address.
- Once this condition matches, IFTTT sends an email back with gift coupon details.
To make sure friend don't stuck
- Once timer ran out it reveals a link to brainfuck visualizer code.
- If he can't solve the puzzle in 3 days, an email triggers and sent gift coupon details to friend's email address. Again using IFTTT.
That's all folks!
If you did something similar or have some idea like this, drop it in comments :)
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Siddharth
Siddharth | Sciencx (2021-11-26T21:49:53+00:00) How I send a gift coupon to my nerdy friend. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2021/11/26/how-i-send-a-gift-coupon-to-my-nerdy-friend/
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