Distribution skill
Show HN post: a step-by-step method and prompt
Launch on Hacker News with something people can try, a plain title, an honest first comment and fast replies.
Updated · 2 min read
A Show HN post is how you share something you built with Hacker News so people can try it and give feedback. Make sure it is usable without a signup wall, title it plainly as "Show HN: [Name] [what it does]", post a first comment explaining why you built it and how it works, then stay and answer every question. Hype and vote requests backfire.
What it is
Show HN is a Hacker News category for projects people can try. The Show HN guidelines say it is for things you made that others can play with, not blog posts or landing pages. The community values technical detail, honesty and makers who engage.
A Show HN has three parts:
| Part | What good looks like |
|---|---|
| Title | "Show HN: Name, what it does" in plain words, no superlatives |
| Link | Goes straight to something usable: demo, repo, free tier |
| First comment | Who you are, why you built it, how it works, what is rough, what feedback you want |
Readers respond to specifics: the stack, a hard problem you solved, tradeoffs, and limitations you admit.
When to use it
- You have a working product, tool or open-source project
- People can try it without a long signup
- You want honest feedback from a technical audience
- You can spend several hours replying after posting
- You built something with an interesting technical story
Step-by-step method
- Remove barriers. Make the core experience usable without signup: a live demo, a sandbox, a public repo, or a generous free tier. Test it in a private window.
- Write a plain title. Use "Show HN: [Name], [what it does in plain words]". Skip adjectives like "amazing" or "the best". Keep it under 80 characters.
- Draft the first comment. Cover: who you are, the problem, why existing options did not work, how it works technically, what is unfinished, and the feedback you want.
- Prepare for load. Make sure the site can handle a traffic spike and that error pages are friendly.
- Post at a time you can stay. Submit when you can reply for the next several hours. Then add your first comment right away.
- Reply to everyone. Answer questions directly, thank critics, admit flaws, and share what you will change. Do not argue.
- Never ask for votes. Do not share the link asking for upvotes. Hacker News detects and penalizes voting rings.
- Capture the feedback. Log every bug report and feature request. Post a follow-up later only when you have a meaningful update.
Ready-to-use prompt
You are helping me write a Show HN post that follows Hacker News guidelines. Project name: [NAME] What it does (one sentence, plain words): [DESCRIPTION] Link (must be usable without signup): [URL] Who I am and my background: [BACKGROUND] Why I built it and what existing options lacked: [MOTIVATION] How it works technically (stack, interesting problems): [TECHNICAL_DETAILS] Known limitations: [LIMITATIONS] Feedback I want: [FEEDBACK_QUESTIONS] Tasks: 1. Write 5 title options in the format "Show HN: Name, what it does", each under 80 characters, no superlatives or marketing words. 2. Write a first comment of 150 to 300 words: background, problem, how it works, limitations, and 2 specific questions for readers. 3. List 8 likely questions or criticisms from HN readers and a short, honest draft answer for each. Rules: plain and technical tone, no hype, no emojis, no em dashes, no requests for upvotes, never overstate what works.
Checklist
- Usable without signup or email
- Title follows "Show HN: Name, what it does"
- No superlatives or marketing language
- First comment posted right after submitting
- Technical detail and limitations included
- Site tested for traffic spikes
- Several hours blocked to reply
- No upvote requests anywhere
- Feedback logged for follow-up
How Thig automates it
The Hacker News agent helps you draft Show HN titles and first comments from your Product Information document, and finds relevant discussions where you can add value. Everything waits in your feed for approval. For a deeper walkthrough, read how to write a Show HN post, and plan the rest of your launch with the Launch Library.
Frequently asked questions
What can be posted as a Show HN?
Something you made that people can try: a product, tool, library or project. Hacker News guidelines say blog posts, signup pages and fundraisers are not Show HNs.
Should a Show HN require signup?
Avoid it where you can. The Show HN guidelines ask that people can try the thing without barriers like signups or emails. A demo or free tier works better.
Can I ask friends to upvote my Show HN?
No. Hacker News prohibits asking for upvotes and penalizes voting rings. Share the link only with people who would engage naturally.