In the Beginning There Was Slop
The article discusses the concept of 'slop' in web design, which refers to the extra space around the edges of elements. It explores how slop can be intentionally used to create a more visually pleasing and approachable design, and how it has evolved over time as design trends and technologies have changed.
Show HN: Frontmatter Core – a build-time content layer for Astro
Hello,
I built Frontmatter Core after repeatedly hitting the same problem: modern frontends and CMS don’t share the same model.
Astro components define structure through props. CMS expect explicit content models.
Frontmatter Core scans Astro, Markdown and YAML files and extracts a stable, typed JSON Intermediate Representation that adapters or CMS can consume.
It runs at build time only: - no runtime<br> - no client-side JS<br> - no database<br> - no CMS coupling<br>
The idea is to keep: - layout in .astro - content in .md / .yaml - structure expressed once, in code, then exposed as data
Adapters (PHP, flat-file CMS, headless CMS, etc.) plug into the same IR.
GitHub: https://github.com/withfrontmatter/frontmatter-core
Happy to answer technical or architectural questions.
AI should write 50%+ of your code
This article explores the potential for AI to write up to 50% of a developer's code, discussing the benefits and challenges of AI-assisted coding, including improved efficiency, reduced errors, and the need for human oversight and creativity.
Catching API regressions with snapshot testing
This article explores the concept of API snapshot testing, a technique that helps ensure the stability and reliability of APIs by capturing and comparing API responses over time. It discusses the benefits of this approach, including improved code quality, faster development cycles, and better collaboration between teams.
Show HN: Stash: End-to-end encrypted file sharing with zero friction
I built Stash because I was tired of the usual tradeoff in file sharing: either force recipients to create accounts or give up on privacy.
How it works 1. Upload from the iOS, iPad or Mac app 2. Get a shareable link 3. Recipients download in the browser, no app, no account, nothing to install
Encryption model Files are encrypted on device using AES 256 GCM before upload. The encryption key lives only in the URL fragment (after #), which browsers never send to servers. Even if the link is intercepted in transit, the file cannot be decrypted without the fragment. The server never sees plaintext or keys.
Native Mac app Built with Mac Catalyst and full bidirectional drag and drop. Drag files onto the app to upload. Drag files out of the app to save them anywhere. No save dialogs, no friction. It feels like moving files in Finder.
What I optimized for • No file size limits • No compression, original quality preserved • Links do not expire unless you delete them • Native Apple UX for senders, universal browser access for recipients
The goal was something my non technical family could use to receive files securely without walkthroughs, accounts or app installs.
I would love feedback on the encryption approach and the UX, especially from people who have built or reviewed similar systems.
Web: https://stash-app.xyz
Guide to the Ultimate-64
The Ultimate64 manual provides comprehensive information about the features and functionality of the Ultimate64 device, a popular FPGA-based computer emulator that supports multiple retro gaming platforms and allows users to load and run a variety of classic games and software.
Show HN: PolyMCP – a toolkit for MCP servers and agent integration
PolyMCP is a framework for building and interacting with MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers and for creating agents that can use those servers as dynamic tools.
Developing and managing MCP servers often involves several challenges:
Exposing Python functions as discoverable tools requires repetitive boilerplate.
Coordinating multiple MCP servers simultaneously is complex.
Debugging tools during development is hard due to limited visibility into calls and outputs.
Integrating agents with LLMs to automatically discover and invoke tools is usually ad-hoc.
PolyMCP addresses these challenges by providing:
Flexible tool exposure: Python functions can be served over HTTP, in-process, or stdio with minimal setup.
Inspector dashboard: Monitor tool invocations, metrics, and test calls interactively in real-time.
Agent integration: Support for multiple LLM providers and automatic tool discovery and invocation.
CLI and workflow utilities: Streamline project setup, testing, and execution.
PolyMCP reduces friction in MCP server development and multi-tool agent orchestration, offering a reliable framework for building intelligent, tool-driven systems.
Github: https://github.com/poly-mcp/Polymcp
Ask HN: What SEO advice works for early-stage SaaS?
I’m trying to cold-start SEO for an early-stage product (LaunchSaaS) and running into a wall.
So far I’ve tried:
using Ahrefs + Bing Webmaster Tools to inspect backlinks
submitting to some directory sites
improving on-page SEO copy
writing a few blog posts
But traffic is still basically zero.
For those who’ve successfully gone through this phase: what actually worked for you early on? What turned out to be noise or a waste of time?
Curious how others approached the cold-start phase.
Hack to the Future – here's how you can write BASIC code on a modern-day PC
This article provides a beginner's guide to programming on modern PCs, covering the basics of writing code, choosing a programming language, and using various tools and resources to get started in the world of software development.
Tariffs: Maybe Not So Crazy
The article examines the long-term effects of former President Trump's tariffs on China, discussing how they impacted the U.S. economy, contributed to inflation, and ultimately hurt American consumers and businesses more than they helped.
Understanding Passkeys
The article discusses the introduction of passkeys, a new passwordless authentication technology that aims to replace traditional passwords and provide a more secure and user-friendly login experience across devices and platforms.
California commits economic suicide as tech investors flee wealth tax
The article discusses the proposed California wealth tax, which would impose an annual tax on the state's wealthiest residents. It examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a tax, including its impact on businesses and the wealthy's ability to avoid it.
Whisper.cpp 1.8.3 Delivers a "12x Performance Boost" with Integrated Graphics
The article discusses the release of Whisper C++, a C++ port of the Whisper speech recognition model, version 1.8.3, which boasts a 12x performance improvement over the previous version. The update focuses on optimizations and performance enhancements to make the library more efficient and practical for real-world applications.
The Evolution of a DSL
Pages CMS: The No-Hassle CMS for Static Sites Generators
PagesCMS is an open-source content management system that allows users to easily create and manage websites. It offers a user-friendly interface, customizable templates, and features for content editing, media management, and website deployment.
Being Happy Is Hard
The article explores the challenges of finding and maintaining happiness, emphasizing that while happiness may be difficult, it is a worthwhile pursuit that requires ongoing effort, self-reflection, and a willingness to adapt to life's ups and downs.
Commodore 64 Ultimate Review
The Commodore 64 is a classic 8-bit home computer that was widely popular in the 1980s. This review explores the history, design, and gaming capabilities of the Commodore 64, highlighting its enduring appeal and significance in the retro gaming community.
Show HN: Witness Archives – A daily history puzzle built with React Native Web
Show HN: Webhook Debugger – OS Alternative to RequestBin with Replay,SSRF Checks
Hi HN,
I built *Webhook Debugger* because existing tools were either ephemeral (RequestBin) or required persistent tunnels (ngrok) that I couldn't leave running on a staging server.
*Repo*: https://github.com/ar27111994/webhook-debugger-logger
*The Stack*: Node.js, Express, Apify SDK (for storage/dataset abstraction), Docker.
*Key Technical Decisions*:
1. *Global SSE Heartbeat*: Instead of `setInterval` per connection (O(N) timers), we use a single global timer to flush heartbeats to all `res` objects. 2. *SSRF Protection*: Custom validator (`src/utils/ssrf.js`) that resolves DNS and checks against a blocklist (including AWS Metadata IP `169.254.169.254`) before forwarding/replaying requests. 3. *Resilience*: The Replay engine implements exponential backoff for `ECONNABORTED` errors, allowing it to handle "blips" when targeting local dev servers. 4. *Hot-Reloading*: A background poller reads the input JSON every 5s and dynamically updates middleware, rate limits, auth keys, and webhook counts without restarting the process. 5. *Platform Integration*: We encountered (and fixed in v2.8.7) a specific schema validation bug that only occurred in the platform UI, teaching us to lean on native storage exports rather than wrapping them in custom views.
It's open source (ISC). I'd love feedback on the *SSRF implementation* – ensuring users can replay to `localhost` (safe in dev) but not internal subnets (unsafe in prod) was a tricky balance.
Millions of Audio Devices Need a Patch to Prevent Wireless Hacking and Tracking
Google's Fast Pair Bluetooth technology for audio accessories has been found to have a vulnerability that could allow attackers to gain access to device information and pair new devices without user consent. Google has released patches to address the issue.
Continuous agents and what happens after Ralph Wiggum?
Is anyone else doing the full software lifecycle for toy projects completely hands off the wheel? I have had Claude running in a Ralph like loop for over 15 hours unsupervised.
The technique works like this
while true: if tickets exist -> burn down the backlog by one ticket, exit if not -> figure out what feature would make sense to add next, create PRD and ERD, break down into tickets, exit
It did get stuck once due to tty issues related to running playwright in a non-tty environment but otherwise I have not had to manually step in.
I have it running in a droplet using systemd continuously.
Toy code the agent is creating is a multi-tenant todo kata. Here is the set of prompts:
https://github.com/waynenilsen/ralph-kata-2/tree/main/prompts
Anyone could make their own version of the same, these are just the set of prompts that work for me.
In 15 hours it created a full multi-tenant auth system from scratch and todos with assignees due dates, email reminders, tags and full text search. I created the first PRD by hand with something like "create a PRD for a multi-tenant todo system".
For anyone looking to do something similar, the e2e tests have played a critical role in closing the agent's loop with reality.
The age of programming with prompts is clearly arriving.
Thoughts on Artificial Intelligence
A Practical 6D Pose Estimation Pipeline for High-Mix Manufacturing
The article presents a practical 6D pose estimation pipeline for high-mix manufacturing, using a combination of depth-based object detection, feature-based pose estimation, and a pose refinement step to achieve accurate and robust 6D pose estimation for objects in complex industrial environments.
Ratio App: Accessibility Color Contrast Checker for macOS
RatioApp is a mobile application that helps users track their calorie intake and activity levels, providing personalized recommendations to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The app uses advanced algorithms to analyze user data and offer tailored suggestions for balanced nutrition and exercise routines.
Pitch Practice
Pitch Lab is a platform that helps entrepreneurs and startups create and refine their pitch decks. It offers templates, guidance, and feedback to improve presentation and storytelling skills for successful fundraising.
US regulator tells GM to hit the brakes on customer tracking
The article discusses the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) decision to ban General Motors (GM) from tracking the location of its customers without their explicit consent. The FTC found that GM's practices violated consumer privacy and data protection laws.
Geo Is Unreliable for Agentic Commerce Brand Protection, Insider Warns
From Airbnb to the White House: Joe Gebbia Is Reshaping Government
The article explores how Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia is leveraging his design expertise to reshape government processes and policies, using human-centered design principles to improve public services and address societal challenges.
Research Papers Defining the SLM Revolution
The article explores the emergence of small AI models, their advantages over large models, and their potential impact on the future of machine learning. It highlights five recent research papers that showcase the capabilities and benefits of smaller, more efficient AI models.