Draft — content compiler wedge. This page is generated by BIU's content compiler and is excluded from search indexing while it is reviewed against our quality tests. Claims are grounded in known patterns; the example company below is clearly illustrative.
Launching a developer tool on Hacker News requires a polished Show HN post that highlights a working demo and a clear problem-solution fit. The most successful launches focus on genuine usefulness for the community, not marketing hype — they earn traction through the quality of the product and the transparency of the founder. Timing the post for an active hour (e.g., early morning US time) and being ready to engage in comments immediately are critical to sustaining the initial attention spike.
Self-contained, quotable blocks — the decision rules a reader (or an AI answer) can lift as-is.
Use a title that clearly describes what your tool does and the problem it solves. Avoid marketing buzzwords or vague phrases like 'Better logging' — instead, be specific: 'A tool that condenses your logs into actionable alerts.' A factual, descriptive title signals transparency and earns more clicks from the developer community.
1. Prepare a working demo that is accessible without sign-up friction. 2. Draft a Show HN post with an informative title and a first comment that adds context. 3. Schedule the post for a high-traffic window, typically early morning US Pacific time. 4. Stay available to reply to every comment in the first two hours. 5. After the initial surge, continue to engage with late commenters.
The most successful Show HN posts share three traits: a functioning demo that visitors can try immediately, a clear statement of the problem being solved, and an open, transparent tone from the founder. Hype and aggressive self-promotion are quickly downvoted or flagged.
Every claim carries its truth type, confidence, and — where you can — how to verify it yourself.
Show HN posts that lack a working demo or a clear problem statement are often flagged by moderators within minutes. A post must provide immediate value to the community through a functional demo or open-source repository.
Verify it: Follow Show HN guidelines explicitly; any post without a working demo is at high risk of removal.
Engaging in the comments quickly after posting significantly improves the post's ranking because the Hacker News algorithm considers comment velocity as a signal of quality. Posts that receive early discussion tend to stay on the front page longer.
Verify it: Reply to every comment within the first two hours; monitor the thread for new replies continuously.
Posting a Show HN on a weekend can yield more attention per vote because fewer competing posts are submitted. The front page turnover is slower, giving your post more time to accumulate interest from the remaining active audience.
Verify it: Experiment with weekend posts; use a scheduler to post at the same time of day for comparison.
An illustrative company used to make the playbook concrete. It is not a real customer and not the evidence behind any claim — just a clear example to picture the moves.
Simple, affordable log aggregation for indie developers.
This step saves time and ensures your post aligns with the patterns that succeed on Hacker News, providing a ready-to-use title, first comment, and talking points.
BIU matches Hacker News stories, weighs community fit and risk, and drafts a substantive comment or Show HN angle for you to post. Substance over automation.
Match the right HN moment and prepare a Show HN or comment that fits the community. BIU scores fit and risk and drafts substance-first angles for you to post.
Grow a dev tool with an engineer-friendly voice: substance-first HN and Reddit, technical SEO and GEO, and fixes that ship as PRs. No silent code changes.
BIU reads public Hacker News stories to find relevant moments and draft substance-first comments or a Show HN angle. No account access, no auto-posting.
Common reasons include: the title was too promotional, the product wasn't accessible (e.g., required sign-up to see anything), or the post was submitted too soon after a previous Show HN. Double-check that the demo is fully functional and that your title is purely descriptive.
Yes, but do so constructively. Critical feedback is valuable; engage politely and address concerns. Avoid getting defensive or argumentative, as that can harm your reputation and lead to downvotes.
Use the first comment to add context: explain why you built it, what makes it different, and any technical details. This not only informs readers but also signals to the algorithm that the post is substantive.
Enter your URL and BIU builds your company memory, then finds, drafts, and ranks the work — you approve what ships.