Launch templateLaunch posts

Show HN post template

Show HN has its own rules: it's for things you made that people can try, the title starts with "Show HN", and you shouldn't ask anyone to upvote or comment. The post itself is just a title and a link; the work happens in your first comment, which should explain what it is, why you built it and how it works, in the tone of one builder talking to others.

Use it for

Developer tools, open-source projects, APIs and apps people can try right away.
Not for landing pages, sign-up pages, newsletters or fundraisers.

Limits and rules

Show HN is for something you've made that people can play with; blog posts, sign-up pages, newsletters, lists and fundraisers are off-topic.[1]
Don't ask friends to upvote or comment.[1]
Titles: no uppercase for emphasis, no exclamation marks, don't editorialize.[2]

The template

Copy it, then replace everything in [BRACKETS]. Delete lines that don't apply rather than leaving them vague.

Show HN post template

TITLE:
Show HN: [PRODUCT] - [PLAIN DESCRIPTION OF WHAT IT IS]

URL:
[LINK WHERE PEOPLE CAN TRY IT WITHOUT SIGNING UP, OR THE REPO]

FIRST COMMENT:
Hi HN, I'm [NAME]. I built [PRODUCT] because [PERSONAL REASON / PROBLEM YOU HIT].

What it does: [2-3 SENTENCES, CONCRETE].

How it works: [TECHNICAL DETAIL THIS AUDIENCE WILL CARE ABOUT - STACK, APPROACH, TRADE-OFFS].

What's rough: [KNOWN LIMITS OR BUGS].

You can try it at [LINK] [WITHOUT AN ACCOUNT / WITH A DEMO LOGIN]. [PRICING IN ONE LINE IF RELEVANT.]

I'd love feedback on [SPECIFIC QUESTION].

How to fill it in

[PLAIN DESCRIPTION]
Say what it is, e.g. "a CLI that diffs Postgres schemas". No adjectives.
[LINK]
Somewhere people can try it now. A waitlist doesn't qualify.
[HOW IT WORKS]
The part HN readers ask about: architecture, trade-offs, why not the obvious approach.
[SPECIFIC QUESTION]
Ask for feedback on one decision, not "thoughts?".

Filled example

Fictional example. Paperlark is a fictional product we made up for these examples: an invoice-reminder tool for freelancers that sends polite follow-ups when a client pays late. Names, prices and details are invented to show the template filled in; they aren't a real company or real results.

Example (fictional product)

TITLE:
Show HN: Paperlark - scheduled reminders for unpaid invoices

URL:
https://paperlark.example/demo

FIRST COMMENT:
Hi HN, I built Paperlark because I'm a freelance developer and I kept putting off chasing late invoices.

What it does: you forward an invoice, pick a tone, and it emails the client on a schedule until you mark it paid. It doesn't process payments.

How it works: a small Go service parses forwarded invoices (PDF text + a few heuristics for totals and due dates), stores a schedule, and sends through a transactional email provider with the freelancer's own reply-to so replies go straight to them.

What's rough: parsing fails on scanned PDFs; you can enter the amount by hand for now.

You can try it at the link above with a demo account, no signup. Free for 3 invoices a month.

I'd love feedback on the default reminder schedule: is 3, 7 and 14 days after the due date too pushy?

Do

Be there to answer for the next few hours.
Answer critique with specifics, not defensiveness.
Mention what's rough; HN respects honesty.
Post when you can stay online.

Don't

Don't ask anyone to upvote or comment.
Don't use marketing language in the title.
Don't post a landing page or waitlist.
Don't repost the same thing repeatedly.

FAQ

What qualifies for Show HN?

Something you made that people can try: software, hardware, a site. Blog posts, sign-up pages, newsletters, lists and fundraisers don't qualify.

Can I ask friends to upvote my Show HN?

No. The Show HN rules and HN guidelines both say not to solicit upvotes or comments.

Can I post a new version as a Show HN?

Generally not for incremental updates. HN says new features and upgrades usually aren't substantive enough; a major overhaul may be.

Launch guides that use this template

Sources

Checked September 23, 2026. Platforms change their rules; open the source before you rely on a number.

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