Glossary
What is Show HN?
Show HN is a section of Hacker News where people share something they've made that others can try: a product, tool, library or project. Posts start with "Show HN:" and must be something people can use, not a landing page or signup wall. It reaches a large technical audience if it gains traction.
Rules
Hacker News' Show HN guidelines say the post should be something you've made that people can play with. Blog posts, signup pages, newsletters and fundraisers aren't Show HNs. Don't ask friends to upvote or comment; HN penalises voting rings.
What does well
- Developer tools, open-source projects and technically interesting builds.
- Clear, modest titles: "Show HN: A CLI that turns logs into dashboards".
- A first comment from the maker explaining what it is, why and how it works.
- Free or open access to try.
Handling comments
The audience is technical and blunt. Reply to every substantive comment, admit limitations, and avoid marketing language. Thoughtful replies can turn critics into users.
Show HN vs Product Hunt
| Show HN | Product Hunt | |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Developers, technical | Broad tech, makers, marketers |
| Tone | Plain, technical | Marketing-friendly |
| Requirement | Usable without signup | Launch page |
| Ranking | Votes with heavy anti-gaming | Weighted votes, featuring |
See how to launch on Hacker News.
Example
A developer posts "Show HN: I built an open-source alternative to X" with a working demo and a detailed first comment. It reaches the front page, brings thousands of visitors and several hundred GitHub stars in a day.
FAQ
Can I post a SaaS on Show HN?
Yes, if people can try it without a signup wall.
Can I repost a Show HN?
Hacker News allows reposting after significant changes; check the guidelines.
When is the best time to post?
Weekday mornings US time are common, but quality matters more than timing.