From 1 to 5000 (and beyond) with the DS106 Daily Create

Name a web site that you used in 2012 that has not stopped working one day right up to 2025. I’m waiting, I am patient. Hmmmm. Not coming to you?

Well take the DS106 Daily Create which published its very first creative challenge, TDC1 on January 8, 2012 and yesterday, September 22, 2025 published TDC5000 not missing one single day in between.

I was there for TDC 1…

… and also for TDC5000

I did some in between for sure, no clue how many, but that’s not the point. The DS106 Daily Create has been maybe one of the most important and meaningful things I have been part of. Much because I ascribe to the value of regular creative habits and (cough) blogging a bit about them.

The #DS106 Daily Create motors along impressively, largely because people jump in, maybe for a short while, maybe longer, but also that it really belongs to no one. Nobody aka NOBODY is in charge. It is a WordPress site hoisted on a perch provided by Reclaim Hosting running a pretty clunky theme I spun out in 2014 in dire needs of updates (one day! I promise!).

It has limped along after the collapse of The Platform I Will Only Call Twitter — the API died when it was yanked by the Dark Lord on May 22, 2023, meaning we could no longer track responses. I made steps to move the posting/replies to Mastodon, yeah the place where “everybody is not” but plenty are. I have it posting there via the account @creating@daily.ds106.us so any replies are technically trackable. I have some WordPress work tom get that working again.

Many Thanks

I will fall short on remembering all who have been part of the ongoing creative path crossing there. I give nods to Tim Owens who built the original site, Mariana Funes who was deep in the early years and took over the helm at different times, Sarah H who has kept the site going much over the last many years, and regular chums who just will not stop like Kevin @dogtrax, Ronald, Todd Conaway, Paul Bond, John Johnston, Rowan Peter, Sandy Jensen Brown, Stefanie, Bill G, Wendy T and many more I will not recall.

But enough laurel resting. We have only until June 17, 2028 til we hit TDC6000 and there is a timely one for December 31, 2025 which will be TDC5106.

Will you be there? It will be there for you.

Featured Image: Screen shots of TDC 1 from January 12, 2012 (only in the internet archive) and TDC5000 from September 22, 2025.