I'm thinking of "open sourcing" Hacker Monthly. The process of making it, the InDesign template I use (and optimized throughout the years), the resources etc. That way, anyone can start their own "Best of HN" magazine or really, any "Best of" magazine.
Which is about as nice as it gets. On top of that, you got what you paid for no?
This is not some kind of crucial service that holds your data or that you need for your day-to-day life.
Overall, I think there is still an opportunity for a "best of HN" publication, and I would probably subscribe if it wasn't too expensive. I just think it would have to be an entirely online-based format, maybe with an optional PDF, but certainly not something that needs a dead tree version.
That said, Lim Cheng Soon really put in some effort to make the print magazine really nice. I'm not a magazine type person, but loved getting them as they were really well made and a nice way to step away from a screen. I've had a chance to work with him over the years and I know whatever he does next will have just as much heart poured into it... I wish him the best!
And Yes everyone, Hacker Newsletter is excellent and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
I'm a subscriber, and even though most of the time I am up-to-date with the site (read: I'm a hardcore procrastinator), I still often miss an interesting article and only discover it later thanks to your e-mails. Thank you for all your good work, and please keep doing it! :).
But maybe he explored it and didn't find any takers, or maybe he doesn't want to deal with the hassle of such a transition.
Would be nice to know.
I know it doesn't make business sense for someone to buy a business without any customers. That's why I never explore the option of selling it.
I'm sure you've considered all the options, but may I ask why you didn't choose to offer current subscribers an 'opt-in' option for being contacted by a new publisher? That way those who were interested in continuing with a new owner would be able to, and those who were only interested in your product wouldn't be bothered. (Again, I wasn't able to find the blog post where you mentioned being approached by possible owners, so if you answered this question there, I apologize.)
But if you open source everything (as mentioned in another one of your comments), that'd be great too.
(Source: he asked my permission for a post of mine that got some attention back in 2013.)
Perhaps now is the time to start "hacking the brain" :) Lots of good nootropic supplements to be tried that could boost creativity :)
Of course, I'm only joking.
Will there be an archive of back issues available in press-ready PDF form?
Update: Now you can get all the back issues here https://gum.co/hm-back-issues
Such a terrible excuse! Society today has this idea that they should only work on things that are their calling or truly make them happy! Outsource some of the boring work, grind out a few hours a week and collect your easy paycheque. Millions of people would do anything to make such easy money instead of slaving away at a real "boring" job for minimum wage.
What a shame on so many different levels.
Time and energy is a resource just as much as money is. If your hobby project is sapping you of more than you get out of it, there's no shame in doing something else.
Give it up and give the project to someone else or sell it.
Now it's in limbo... What if someone else wants to do it? Will Lee sue? Is he really interested in litigation now?
Who knows? It's a shame to end it like this.
I myself only heard of it when one of my articles got featured in it. They were nice enough to give me a free year of the digital subscription and it was one of the highlights every month.
With that said, I think there's still a healthy ecosystem of similar products. There was a post on the front page about a new newsletter that sent out one "classic" HN post a week, I think the article mentioned it was doing pretty well. Can't remember its name though haha.
Any plans to let old subscribers download the PDF for past issues? I should have done it before it expired.
A magazine of HN delivered to my door would be amazing! Wish I knew about it before, and I hope someone continues with it.
Are you selling the site?
I probably received more than 50 emails about selling Hacker Monthly. My answer is ‘No’. I’m ending it and I wanted to do it right. And, I wouldn’t be comfortable passing the subscribers data to someone else.
Good luck with your next project(s)!
I have the first 16 issues, which I bought all at once a few years ago, to lower shipping costs (I live in Europe).
I really liked Hacker Monthly and I'd love to have the other issues in a printed form :)
