Diseased vs Deceased Confusion
β‘οΈ 0.9xDiscussions center on correcting the common misuse of 'diseased' (sick/infected) instead of 'deceased' (dead) in comments.
GamerGate Wiki Drama
β‘οΈ 1.1xThe cluster centers on discussions about the GamerGate controversy, particularly drama and conflicts surrounding Wikipedia edits and pages related to it.
Gratitude Expressions
β‘οΈ 0.5xThis cluster consists of comments where users thank others for kind words, positive feedback, and appreciation on their posts or contributions.
HN Topic Suitability
π 0.5xDiscussions questioning whether specific posts or content are relevant, appropriate, or worthy of appearing on Hacker News, often debating the site's purpose and front page standards.
archive.is Paywall Bypasses
β‘οΈ 0.7xThis cluster consists of comments sharing archive.is links to provide paywall-free access to articles, often labeled as 'paywall free' or 'unpaywalled'. It reflects a common Hacker News practice for bypassing content restrictions on discussed stories.
Archive.ph Links
β‘οΈ 0.6xComments in this cluster are exclusively links to snapshots on archive.ph, used by users to share and preserve web pages like tweets and articles for discussion.
HN Guidelines Enforcement
β‘οΈ 0.6xThis cluster features comments from moderators and users reminding others to follow Hacker News commenting guidelines, criticizing snarky, unsubstantive, rude, or off-topic remarks and linking to newsguidelines.html.
YouTube Video Links
π 0.5xComments in this cluster primarily consist of users sharing direct links to YouTube videos, often as responses, examples, or recommendations (e.g., 'Here it is', 'LMGTFY', 'See also') to illustrate points in the discussion.
Sed-style Wording Corrections
β‘οΈ 0.6xCluster consists of comments using 's/old/new/' syntax to suggest minor edits, grammar fixes, spelling corrections, or nuanced rephrasings to other users' comments for precision or clarity.
HN Thread Links
β‘οΈ 0.8xComments primarily consisting of links to previous or related Hacker News threads, often with phrases like 'See:' or 'Related:' to provide context or further reading.
Note-Taking App Alternatives
π 0.3xUsers compare and recommend note-taking apps like Evernote, Simplenote, Obsidian, and others, discussing features such as cross-platform sync, markdown support, offline access, and simplicity.
Humorous Name Generator
β‘οΈ 0.5xUsers share absurd parody names for services, projects, and startups, often in 'As A Service' style or with puns and niche references, reacting to a tool like Volme for generating funny personalized content suitable for April Fools.
Perl Relevance Debate
β‘οΈ 0.6xComments discuss Perl's declining popularity, readability criticisms, comparisons to Python and Ruby, and whether it's still worth learning or using today.
Explanation Requests
π 0.4xThis cluster captures comments where users repeatedly ask 'why' or request reasoning behind claims, statements, or observations made by others in discussions.
Electron Apps Debate
π 0.4xThis cluster centers on discussions about Electron, a framework for building cross-platform desktop apps with web technologies, featuring heavy criticism of its bloat, resource usage, and preference for native alternatives, alongside defenses citing its convenience and success in apps like VSCode.
React.js Debate
β‘οΈ 0.6xThis cluster features debates on React.js's value, necessity, and overuse in web development, contrasting it with vanilla JavaScript or alternatives like Svelte, while discussing its benefits, bloat, and ecosystem.
VPN Trust Issues
β‘οΈ 0.5xThe cluster focuses on debates about whether VPNs provide real privacy or anonymity, primarily questioning the trust placed in VPN providers compared to ISPs, with concerns about logging, selling out, and alternatives like Tor.
GitHub Repository Links
β‘οΈ 0.6xCommenters frequently request GitHub repositories for discussed projects and share direct links to them, including related tools like Gitea or Gists.
Gratitude Expressions
π 0.4xThis cluster consists of highly similar comments expressing thanks, appreciation, and praise for shared content, explanations, tools, or contributions in Hacker News threads.
Clickable Links
β‘οΈ 1.0xThis cluster consists of comments where users post HTML-formatted clickable links to websites, often prefixed with 'Clickable' or similar phrases, likely to test rendering or share projects on Hacker News.
AI Hype Fatigue
β‘οΈ 1.4xComments primarily express skepticism, sarcasm, and fatigue towards the overuse and hype of AI in products, services, and discussions, questioning its necessity and authenticity.
Paywall Archive Links
π 0.5xThis cluster consists of comments that primarily share links to archived versions of articles from services like archive.md, archive.is, and archive.ph, often to bypass paywalls or preserve content.
CAPTCHA Effectiveness Debate
π 0.4xUsers complain about CAPTCHAs being annoying, ineffective, and easily bypassed by services like 2captcha, while discussing alternatives such as reCAPTCHA, hCaptcha, and Cloudflare Turnstile.
Related HN Threads
π 0.3xComments linking to other Hacker News item pages, often as references to previous discussions or related stories on similar topics.
LLM-Assisted Coding
π 8.8xDiscussions revolve around experiences using LLMs for programming tasks, debating their benefits for speeding up development and learning versus drawbacks like producing low-quality code, bugs, and the risks of over-reliance without understanding.
HN Opinion Diversity
π 0.5xThis cluster centers on debates about the diversity of opinions among Hacker News commenters, challenging generalizations about a monolithic 'HN crowd,' groupthink, and community biases.
Correction Acknowledgments
π 0.5xComments where users admit mistakes, stand corrected, and thank others for pointing out errors or providing clarifications.
Twitter Conversation Limitations
π 0.1xThis cluster focuses on criticisms of Twitter's design and UX, particularly its unsuitability for meaningful conversations, discussions, or threaded interactions, with users questioning its purpose and value compared to alternatives.
Broken Links Complaints
π 0.5xThis cluster revolves around users reporting that shared links in comments or posts are not working, inaccessible, or broken, with many requesting alternative links or mirrors.
Government Corruption Debate
β‘οΈ 0.5xComments primarily accuse or debate whether specific events, decisions, or systemic issues in governments and countries constitute corruption, often contrasting it with incompetence and noting its prevalence worldwide.
Rust Memory Safety
β‘οΈ 0.8xThe cluster debates Rust's memory safety guarantees, focusing on the role of 'unsafe' code, its necessity for nontrivial programs, and comparisons to C/C++ where unsafe Rust is argued to be safer despite not being fully memory-safe.
Steve Jobs Comparisons
β‘οΈ 0.6xComments frequently compare a person, decision, or behavior in the discussion to Steve Jobs, often referencing his abrasive personality, management style, or infamous anecdotes.
Clarification Acknowledgments
π 0.4xThis cluster captures comments where users thank others for providing clarifications and express that the explanations make sense.
Humor Appreciation Reactions
β‘οΈ 0.5xThis cluster consists of comments expressing laughter, chuckles, and amusement in response to the humorous content of a specific Hacker News post or comment.
Agreement Expressions
π 0.5xThis cluster captures comments that exclusively express agreement, endorsement, or concurrence with other users' statements or points in Hacker News discussions.
Twitter Free Speech Debate
π 0.1xThe cluster discusses Twitter's content moderation practices, particularly around banning or restricting political figures like Trump, debating whether this constitutes censorship or is permissible as a private company's right under Section 230.
Alternative Site Recommendations
β‘οΈ 0.6xCommenters predominantly share links to similar websites, tools, or services as alternatives to the main post's subject, often asking for or providing URLs to check out.
"I'm Not the Only One"
π 0.5xCommenters express relief, validation, and camaraderie upon realizing others share their personal experiences, habits, opinions, or quirks described in the parent post or comment.
How'd You Do That?
π 0.4xComments where users express thanks and curiosity about the implementation details of impressive technical demonstrations or projects shared on Hacker News.
Backup Reliability Debate
π 0.5xThe cluster focuses on debates about the effectiveness and importance of data backups, especially in scenarios involving data loss or failures, emphasizing the need for testable restores, offsite storage, and proper backup strategies over mere backup creation.
Link Sharing
β‘οΈ 0.7xComments primarily consist of users posting shortened URLs, archive mirrors, file shares, or requesting links to access related content, often bypassing restrictions like paywalls.
Clarification Requests
π 0.5xComments where users ask for details, names, or identifications of vaguely referenced items, systems, products, or concepts in parent posts or articles.
Thanks for Corrections
π 0.4xThis cluster captures comments where users express gratitude for others pointing out corrections, mistakes, useful information, or heads-ups in discussions.
Wikipedia Links
π 0.4xComments primarily consisting of hyperlinks to Wikipedia articles, often malformed, partial, or to obscure pages, used as references or rabbit hole starters.
Backup Software Recommendations
π 0.4xThis cluster focuses on recommendations for personal and offsite data backup tools and services like Backblaze, restic, Tarsnap, BorgBackup, and CrashPlan, with users sharing setups, experiences, and alternatives for reliable backups.
Betteridge's Law of Headlines
π 0.4xComments primarily invoke Betteridge's law to critique the article's question-based headline, asserting that the answer is 'no' and highlighting its misleading or clickbait nature.
AI Meal Puns
π 0.5xComments filled with humorous food puns and jokes, often twisting programming terms like 'null', 'spam', and 'source' into culinary references in response to an AI meal or recipe planner.
Cancer Cure Metaphors
π 0.5xComments predominantly use cancer and its lack of a cure as a sarcastic metaphor to critique the limitations, ineffectiveness, or obstructive nature of the discussed technology, policy, or approach. Some samples discuss actual cancer research, treatments, and progress.
Pop Culture References
β‘οΈ 0.5xComments featuring quotes, parodies, and allusions to movies, TV shows, books, and music to dramatically or humorously react to a major news event. The cluster captures meme-like responses expressing schadenfreude, shock, or chaos surrounding corporate drama or downfall.
Twitter Behavior Comparisons
π 0.2xCommenters repeatedly compare the main post's issue or feature to typical Twitter behavior, often dismissively noting it's unsurprising or inherent to the platform, with references to its unreliability, new rules, and alternatives like Nitter.
C++ vs C Debate
π 0.5xComments debate the merits of C++ compared to C, focusing on C++'s excessive complexity, multiple paradigms, lack of opinionated design, and challenges in producing consistent, maintainable code across teams.
Lua Language Debates
β‘οΈ 0.8xDiscussions revolve around the pros, cons, and comparisons of Lua with languages like Python, JavaScript, and LuaJIT, focusing on its suitability for embedded scripting, game development, and performance.
Labor Unions Debate
π 0.2xThe cluster centers on debates about the pros and cons of labor unions, including their role in protecting workers, potential for corruption and company sabotage, differences between US and European models, and impacts on performance and incentives.
Expressions of Gratitude
π 0.5xThe cluster is dominated by repeated 'thank you' messages from users expressing appreciation, likely for helpful information, tools, or content shared in the original post.
Who Wants to Be Hired
π 0.5xThis cluster features developers posting their locations, remote preferences, willingness to relocate, technology stacks, and resume links in Hacker News' monthly job-seeking thread.
Twitter Claim Skepticism
π 0.2xUsers debate the credibility of sensational claims originating from Twitter posts featured in articles, questioning if they are unsubstantiated rumors, misleading headlines, hacks, or attention-seeking posts.
Trademark Infringement
π 0.4xCommenters discuss potential trademark infringement by a new product, app, or company name, raising concerns about confusion, enforcement, legal scope, and advising consultation with lawyers.
Node.js Popularity Debate
π 0.4xThe cluster centers on debates about Node.js's rise, popularity, viability as a server-side technology, and comparisons to alternatives like PHP, Rails, and Go, with mixed opinions on its future.
Rickrolling Reactions
β‘οΈ 0.5xComments from users reacting to Rick Astley rickrolls on Hacker News, featuring playful teasing, mock outrage, earworm complaints, and admissions of sharing prank links.
Speed Limits Debate
π 0.4xThe cluster revolves around debates on the safety and appropriateness of speed limits, whether drivers should adhere strictly or match traffic flow, and issues like enforcement, GPS limiting, and autonomous vehicles.
Article Misinterpretation Disputes
π 0.5xCommenters repeatedly accuse each other of missing the point, not reading, or misunderstanding the linked article's content and arguments. Discussions focus on clarifying what the article actually says versus commenters' interpretations.
Can't Have Nice Things
β‘οΈ 0.6xComments expressing sarcastic frustration using the repeated phrase 'this is why we canβt have nice things' to mock foolish behavior, incompetence, or ridiculous ideas in the thread.
Mystery Product Identification
π 0.5xCommenters repeatedly request the brand, model, availability, safety standards, weight, and manufacturing origin of a specific lightweight physical product featured in the post, showing strong interest in buying it while noting it's no longer available.
Slack Alternatives Debate
π 0.3xDiscussions compare a new tool or app to Slack, questioning its improvements, similarities, features, and viability as a replacement amid criticisms and defenses of Slack.
Autism Spectrum Debate
β‘οΈ 0.9xThis cluster involves discussions about Autism Spectrum Disorder, including its spectrum nature, common misconceptions, stereotypes, personal experiences, and debates over whether specific behaviors or commenters exhibit autistic traits.
Dev Tools Debate
β‘οΈ 0.7xThis cluster centers on debates about the value, impact, and appropriate use of developer tools in programming, including whether over-reliance on tools signals poor skills, the need to master tools intimately, or if tools themselves are the problem.
UBI Debate
β‘οΈ 0.6xDiscussions revolve around Universal Basic Income (UBI), debating its effectiveness in addressing unemployment, work incentives, societal impacts, and comparisons to welfare programs.
Logo Design Criticism
π 0.3xThis cluster centers on users critiquing the unappealing, distorted, and ugly logo of a featured project or site, often noting its intentional poor design, similarities to other logos like Hacker News or StumbleUpon, and calls for improvements. Discussions highlight how the logo detracts from perceived legitimacy and user experience.
Twitter Link Drops
π 0.3xThis cluster features comments that primarily share direct links to Twitter posts or threads, often with phrases like 'I'll just leave this here' or emojis, serving as quick references, rebuttals, or humorous asides in discussions.
Pop Culture Quotes
β‘οΈ 0.6xComments in this cluster are primarily short quips quoting song lyrics, movie lines, internet memes, and hacker references rather than substantive discussion. They express excitement, sarcasm, or recognition through cultural allusions.
Author Appreciation Comments
π 0.4xThis cluster captures comments expressing gratitude, thanks, and positive feedback to authors for their posts, insights, contributions, and efforts on Hacker News.
Rust vs C/C++
β‘οΈ 0.5xThis cluster centers on debates comparing Rust to C and C++, discussing whether Rust is a superior replacement for systems programming due to its safety features like borrowing, while weighing C/C++'s maturity, ecosystem, and performance.
Gratitude for Shared Info
π 0.4xThis cluster captures comments where users express thanks and interest in information, data, insights, or details shared in the discussion.
Nix/NixOS Recommendations
π 0.4xDiscussions revolve around recommending, questioning experiences with, and debating the practicality of Nix package manager and NixOS for reproducible builds, system configuration, and package management.
Twitter's Decline
π 0.1xComments debate Twitter's ongoing viability, potential death or replacement by alternatives like Bluesky or Threads, and criticisms of its developer relations, API changes, and failure to innovate.
Chrome Compatibility Issues
π 0.4xUsers report a website, demo, or feature failing to work properly in Google Chrome while functioning in other browsers like Firefox or Safari, with discussions on bugs, workarounds like older Chrome versions, and requests for broader compatibility.
Comment Tone Disputes
π 0.4xUsers discuss, apologize for, defend against, or critique the perceived tone of comments, such as snark, condescension, or confrontation, often clarifying that no offense was intended.
Rust vs Other Languages
π 0.5xComments debate Rust's advantages, use cases, and suitability compared to languages like Python, Go, C++, and C# for systems programming, web development, performance, and productivity.
ChatGPT Capabilities
π 0.4xComments assert that ChatGPT or similar LLMs like GPT-3/4 can already perform the tasks or features discussed in the parent thread, often suggesting it as a sufficient or superior alternative.
Vim Learning Debate
π 0.3xThis cluster centers on debates about whether developers should learn and use Vim, highlighting its steep learning curve, efficiency advantages, modal editing benefits, and comparisons to alternatives like VSCode, nano, or Emacs.
Misconception Corrections
β‘οΈ 0.5xComments refuting incorrect assumptions or misconceptions about the article or discussion, repeatedly clarifying that something is not what people think it is.
Floating Point Arithmetic
π 0.5xThe cluster focuses on the challenges, precision issues, and limitations of floating-point arithmetic in computing, including references to IEEE standards, common pitfalls, and alternatives like fixed-point math.
Duplicate HN Threads
π 0.5xThis cluster captures comments that link to previous or related Hacker News discussions, often labeling them as duplicates, 'see also', or prior examples of the same topic.
Self-Driving Cars
π 0.4xComments focus on the current state, limitations, and future prospects of self-driving cars, including debates on full autonomy, company progress like Tesla, and comparisons to human driving competence.
Elaboration Requests
π 0.5xThis cluster groups comments where users politely request more details, explanations, or clarification on statements made in other comments or the original post.
Windows Compatibility Issues
π 0.5xUsers discuss the availability or limitations of Windows support for a software project, expressing disappointment over it being Windows-only, lacking Windows support, or requesting Windows ports.
Nothing to Hide Argument
π 0.4xThis cluster centers on debates and critiques of the 'nothing to hide' argument used to dismiss the importance of privacy, with commenters arguing that privacy is a fundamental right independent of having secrets.
HN vs Reddit Debate
π 0.4xDiscussions focus on complaints that Hacker News is becoming like Reddit, defenses of HN's superior quality and moderation, and references to guidelines discouraging such comparisons to maintain high signal-to-noise ratios.
Hacker News Relevance
β‘οΈ 0.5xUsers repeatedly question the relevance of a specific article or post to Hacker News, arguing it strays from the site's focus on hacking, technology, and tech enthusiasts into general or consumer news.
Student Loan Bankruptcy
π 0.1xThe cluster discusses why student loans are nearly impossible to discharge in bankruptcy, how government guarantees eliminate risk for lenders and colleges leading to inflated tuition costs, and calls for reforms like making them dischargeable or removing federal involvement.
HN Flamewar Warnings
π 0.3xThis cluster features repeated pleas from moderators and users to avoid starting, perpetuating, or engaging in flamewars on Hacker News, with direct references to the site's guidelines.
HN Personal Attacks
π 0.5xThis cluster centers on moderators and users repeatedly warning against personal attacks in comments, emphasizing that they violate Hacker News guidelines regardless of provocation.
iOS Support Issues
π 0.5xUsers express frustration about a feature or app lacking availability, functionality, or good performance on iOS devices, often requesting iOS support or noting it as a dealbreaker.
NSA Involvement Speculation
π 0.4xComments joke, speculate, or debate about the NSA's potential involvement or responsibility for the article's subject, often with sarcasm and tinfoil hat references, alongside rebuttals denying any connection.
Europe Regional Debates
β‘οΈ 0.5xCommenters debate whether the article's topic applies to, is common in, or differs in Europe, often contrasting it with the US or other regions.
Strawman Arguments
β‘οΈ 0.5xComments criticize users for rebutting arguments not actually made, employing ad hominem attacks, and failing to provide substantive counterarguments or engage in good faith.
Chrome Extension Requests
π 0.5xCommenters frequently inquire about, suggest, or mention existing Chrome or browser extensions as alternatives or enhancements to the discussed tool or feature.
Misdirected Replies
β‘οΈ 0.6xComments in this cluster repeatedly point out that a reply is addressing the wrong parent comment, misunderstanding the original statement, or responding to an unrelated point.
HN Apple Criticism Backlash
π 0.5xDiscussions center on backlash against criticizing Apple on Hacker News, including downvotes from perceived fans and debates over community bias toward the company.
Free Speech Debate
π 0.4xThe cluster focuses on debates about the meaning, limits, and hypocrisy of free speech, with frequent references to phrases like 'free speech for me but not for thee' and discussions on its application to private platforms, consequences, and absolutism.