undefined | Better HN

0 pointsdang4y ago0 comments

Release milestones don't tend to make much difference in HN threads. Instead, what we get each time is a discussion of the project as a whole (as you can clearly see in the current thread.) Nothing wrong with that!—it's natural—it just means that different releases of the same product aren't really different stories from an HN thread perspective. From the perspective of the project developers, of course it's a major thing.

I wrote a longer explanation about this if anyone wants more: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23071428

0 comments

5 comments · 2 top-level

bethere4y ago· 2 in thread

> but it means that different releases of the same product aren't really different stories, from an HN discussion perspective

Sorry Dang - I would have to point to you that YC companies term their releases as 'launch day' or 'launch week' with YC W/Sxx badge in the title get preferential treatment and are allowed to be discussed multiple times over year - why is that ? I dont want to name names here.

dangOP4y ago

Do you mean the official Launch HNs for YC startups? They are indeed a special case, but not in the sense you describe. They don't get to happen multiple times in a year. In fact, each YC startup only ever gets one in its entire lifetime.*

Launch HNs do get special treatment in that we place them on HN's front page. This is one of three things that HN gives back to YC in exchange for funding it—those things are all clearly listed at https://news.ycombinator.com/newsfaq.html#yc.

Btw, don't be sorry! We want everyone to know how this stuff works, and we want it to be clear what the principles are (and that there are principles). Other than the three things I just mentioned, YC startups don't get preferential treatment on HN. They have to struggle for attention just like everyone else, and with the exception of a few community darlings, they find it just as tough going as everyone else, and aren't particularly happy about it.

* although I think I'm going to make an exception next week for a startup that did the very first Launch HN 5 years ago and is still kicking.

bethere4y ago

I completely get Launch HN part - that was not I intended. I've seen companies not 'launch' but incrementally present their releases from what they've built quarter by quarter with YC badge in the title of the post or in the guise of launch week. And have always wondered why are those incremental releases allowed to be discussed so successfully ? I would say YC badge shouldn't be allowed in first place in any post other than Launch/Job. Believe me these companies have become disproportionately successful from their peers although they lack substance within. As mentioned I do not want to name names.

1 more reply

mkishi4y ago· 1 in thread

I don't think 1.0 releases deserve the same treatment as 1.3.2 Beta 1.

The SNI here is that Tauri has hit stable, an information that does change how a lot of people would approach it.

I might need an even longer explanation, though, because I don't get it still. There are projects like Blender which were allowed to the front page like 5+ times in the past year, exclusively with posts about new releases. The discussions always hit the same notes. Why is that any different?

pvg4y ago

It's not different, those posts get downweighted too when mods catch them. You can email them in if you notice something getting repetitive.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse