Hacker News

What it is

Hacker News is a simple, text-only site where users submit links and vote them up, and discussion happens in threaded comments. It is run by Y Combinator, the startup accelerator, and moderated to keep discussion substantive. Its guidelines ask for content that gratifies intellectual curiosity, original sources rather than rewrites, no sensational titles, and comments that are kind, curious and substantive rather than snarky. They also ask users not to post AI-generated comments.

Beyond the front page, the site has sections for Ask HN (questions to the community), Show HN (people sharing things they built) and job posts from Y Combinator companies.

What to actually use it for

• The comments on technical posts. There is often someone who worked on the system being described, correcting or adding context. That is hard to find anywhere else.
• The monthly "Who is hiring?" thread. Posted on the first weekday of each month, it collects job posts written by the companies themselves, often describing the actual work, the stack and whether remote is possible. There are companion threads for freelancers and for people seeking work.
• Show HN, to see what developers are building and, later, to share your own project for honest feedback.
• Ask HN, for discussions on careers, tools and practices.

How to use it without losing hours

It is an excellent way to spend two hours learning nothing. The signal is real, but diluted by a large amount of confident argument about topics nobody in the thread has direct experience of.

• Visit at set times, such as once a day, or use the "best" and "past" pages to read only top stories.
• Read comments critically. High-voted comments are not always right; look for people with direct experience.
• Use a digest, such as a daily or weekly email of top stories, if you tend to scroll.
• Search. The site's search (powered by Algolia) finds past discussions of almost any tool or library, which is useful when choosing technology.

For job seekers

To use the hiring threads well, search the page for your stack or for "remote", read the posting carefully, and email as instructed with a short, specific note. Many postings come from smaller companies that do not advertise elsewhere. For roles outside the US and Europe, filter for remote-friendly postings and check time-zone requirements.

Common questions

Do I need an account? Only to comment, vote or submit. Reading is open.

Is it good for beginners? Parts of it are. Early-career developers get the most from Ask HN threads on careers and learning, and from the hiring threads. Many discussions assume experience.

Best for: staying broadly aware of the industry, finding thoughtful technical discussion, and job hunting through the monthly hiring threads, all in bounded doses.