diff --git a/contracts/simpleCounter.sol b/contracts/simpleCounter.sol
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dee6b314
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/simpleCounter.sol
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+pragma solidity ^0.8.24;
+
+contract Counter {
+    uint public count;
+
+    event CountIncreased(uint amount, uint when);
+    event CountDecreased(uint amount, uint when);
+
+    function increaseByOne() public {
+        require(count < type(uint).max, "cannot increase beyond max uint");
+        count++;
+        emit CountIncreased(count, block.timestamp);
+    }
+
+    function increaseByValue(uint _value) public {
+        require(count + _value >= count, "cannot increase beyond max uint");
+        count += _value;
+        emit CountIncreased(count, block.timestamp);
+    }
+
+    function decreaseByOne() public {
+        require(count > 0, "cannot decrease below 0");
+        count--;
+        emit CountDecreased(count, block.timestamp);
+    }
+
+    function decreaseByValue(uint _value) public {
+        require(count >= _value, "cannot decrease below 0");
+        count -= _value;
+        emit CountDecreased(count, block.timestamp);
+    }
+
+    function resetCount() public {
+        count = 0;
+        emit CountDecreased(count, block.timestamp);
+    }
+
+    function getCount() public view returns (uint) {
+        return count;
+    }
+
+    function getMaxUint256() public pure returns (uint) {
+        unchecked {
+            uint max = 0;
+            max--; // underflows to the maximum uint256 value
+            return max;
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/hardhat.config.js b/hardhat.config.js
index 26528f0e..b63f0c2f 100644
--- a/hardhat.config.js
+++ b/hardhat.config.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox");
-require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-ignition-ethers");
 
 /** @type import('hardhat/config').HardhatUserConfig */
 module.exports = {
-  solidity: "0.8.25",
+  solidity: "0.8.28",
 };
diff --git a/submissions/assignment-1.md b/submissions/assignment-1.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..cfee1be3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/submissions/assignment-1.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Assignment 1
+Here's a link to [assignment 1](../contracts/simpleCounter.sol)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/Counter.js b/test/Counter.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..70dd8002
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/Counter.js
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+const { expect } = require("chai");
+const { ethers } = require("hardhat");
+
+
+describe("Counter Contract", function () {
+    let Counter, counter, owner, addr1;
+
+    beforeEach(async function () {
+        [owner, addr1] = await ethers.getSigners();
+        Counter = await ethers.getContractFactory("Counter");
+        counter = await Counter.deploy();
+        await counter.waitForDeployment();
+    });
+
+    it("should start with a count of 0", async function () {
+        expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(0);
+    });
+
+    it("should increase count by one", async function () {
+        await counter.increaseByOne();
+        expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(1);
+    });
+
+    it("should increase count by a specified value", async function () {
+        await counter.increaseByValue(10);
+        expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(10);
+    });
+
+    it("should decrease count by one", async function () {
+        await counter.increaseByOne();
+        await counter.decreaseByOne();
+        expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(0);
+    });
+
+    it("should decrease count by a specified value", async function () {
+        await counter.increaseByValue(20);
+        await counter.decreaseByValue(5);
+        expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(15);
+    });
+
+    it("should not decrease count below zero", async function () {
+        await expect(counter.decreaseByOne()).to.be.revertedWith("cannot decrease below 0");
+    });
+
+    it("should reset count to zero", async function () {
+        await counter.increaseByValue(50);
+        await counter.resetCount();
+        expect(await counter.getCount()).to.equal(0);
+    });
+});
\ No newline at end of file