The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
Category

The DRS Mystery

The Dollar Endgame • 718 implied HN points • 29 Mar 24
💰 Finance Market Manipulation Securities Stock Market Investors
  1. There is a movement to directly register the entire float of a company through the Direct Registration System (DRS), which allows investors to hold their securities in book entry form directly with the issuer.
  2. The growth in DRS registrations started to stall, leading to investigations about why the consistent buy volume and DRS transfer images were not reflecting in reports. Theories emerged about how shares are manipulated and moved between book and plan shares.
  3. Complexities in the market and opaque practices by institutions make it challenging for retail investors to understand the full picture. The DRS numbers may not reflect the complete truth due to potential manipulation and changing market dynamics.

A Defence of Hate

Becoming Noble • 2232 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
📖 Philosophy Morality Religion Ethics Identity Spirituality
  1. Hatred, when directed at evil and not individuals, can be a powerful force for rejecting what is harmful.
  2. According to philosophers like Aquinas and Nietzsche, properly understanding and harnessing hatred involves recognizing its role in opposing evil.
  3. It's crucial to distinguish between hating evil actions and hating individuals, as the former is aligned with rejecting what is harmful while the latter can be destructive.

How to Invest in Space Tech: The Case of Rocket Lab

Space Ambition • 179 implied HN points • 12 Jul 24
💼 Business Technology Venture Capital Investment Market Analysis Startups
  1. Rocket Lab focuses on launching small payloads which is a growing need in the satellite market. This makes their service essential for companies needing timely deliveries.
  2. The company's innovative technology, such as 3D-printed engines, allows them to offer flexible launch options. This gives customers more control over their launch schedules.
  3. Despite some competition, Rocket Lab has a good chance to become a leader in its niche. Their strong team and existing client commitments make them an appealing investment.

A cold play

benn.substack • 1048 implied HN points • 18 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Internet Business Models User Experience AI Software
  1. The value of a domain name can vary greatly depending on who owns it. For example, chatgpt.com would be worth a lot more to a company like Google than to an individual.
  2. User experience (UX) is key in getting people to adopt AI tools. A good interface can make a product more appealing, regardless of how advanced the technology behind it is.
  3. Google faces a challenge in convincing users to choose their AI models over others. They have great technology but need to create better products that people actually want to use.

4 Trillion Events Daily at LinkedIn

VuTrinh. • 319 implied HN points • 08 Jun 24
🕹 Technology Software Development Machine Learning Real-Time Processing Cloud Computing Data Engineering
  1. LinkedIn processes around 4 trillion events every day, using Apache Beam to unify their streaming and batch data processing. This helps them run pipelines more efficiently and save development time.
  2. By switching to Apache Beam, LinkedIn significantly improved their performance metrics. For example, one pipeline's processing time went from over 7 hours to just 25 minutes.
  3. Their anti-abuse systems became much faster with Beam, reducing the time taken to identify abusive actions from a day to just 5 minutes. This increase in efficiency greatly enhances user safety and experience.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Perplexity Computer, AI-native Postman, Stolen Gemini API Key

The API Changelog • 4 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🕹 Technology Telecom Security Developer Tools Payments Automation APIs AI Cloud
  1. APIs are evolving into agent-native interfaces where models can interpret UIs, control actions, and orchestrate multiple services so agents deliver finished work instead of just answers.
  2. Mobile networks and telco services are becoming programmable through standardized global APIs and marketplace hubs, letting developers access identity, connectivity, and network functions from a single integration point.
  3. The agentic era increases operational and security risk: leaked keys or provider outages can cause massive costs and broken workflows, so teams need hard spending caps, real‑time anomaly detection, and multi‑provider failover.

What's up Python? Mypy gets better, uv faster, FastApi easier, Emscripten formal...er

Bite code! • 1223 implied HN points • 06 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software Programming Web Development Open Source Cloud Computing
  1. Emscripten support is now official, which makes it easier to run Python in web browsers. This means you can execute Python code without needing a server.
  2. Mypy has released a new version that fixes some annoying issues and allows more flexible coding styles. Now you can redefine variables more easily without strict type checks.
  3. FastAPI's creator has started a new company to make it simpler to deploy FastAPI projects. This service aims to streamline the deployment process with just one command.

Tech companies are clamoring to re-buttonize their products

Taylor Lorenz's Newsletter • 3732 implied HN points • 25 Nov 24
🕹 Technology User Interface User Experience Tech Trends Product Design Consumer Electronics
  1. Tech companies are bringing back physical buttons in their products. After years of relying on touch screens, people are realizing that buttons are often easier and more reliable to use.
  2. Touch screens can crash and are not as user-friendly when you can't look at them, making things difficult in situations like cooking or driving. Buttons allow for more control without having to focus on a screen.
  3. The desire for buttons indicates a shift in how people want to interact with technology. There’s a growing appreciation for the tactile experience and simplicity that buttons provide.

Socrates' Wayward Student

Classical Wisdom • 2220 implied HN points • 02 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Virtue Ancient Ethics Hedonism Morality
  1. Cyrenaic hedonists took a different approach to pleasure than Stoicism, focusing on pursuing pleasure and avoiding pain as the highest good.
  2. Aristippus, a follower of Socrates, diverged greatly from his teacher's principles to indulge in luxury and extravagance, believing in seeking pleasure while maintaining mastery over desires.
  3. Cyrenaic hedonism promotes living a life devoted to pursuing pleasures while also advocating for mastery over desires, without becoming a slave to pleasure.

Storytelling is the new clickbait, can B2B capitalise?

Mehdeeka • 5 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
💼 Business Branding Social media B2B Marketing Advertising Strategy Content
  1. New short, personal story formats grab attention by using first-person hooks, cliffhangers, and subtle or late product mentions to drive clicks.
  2. B2B can use storytelling, but only if your customers are actually on those platforms; focus on building an owned, engaged audience and a distinctive brand using platform-native formats.
  3. Don’t chase every trend — audit channels, compare time and budget to results, cut underperformers, and reallocate resources to focused experiments or to hiring/outsourcing so you can do fewer channels well.

How Successful Startups Solved the Chicken and Egg Problem: A Case Study of Tinder, Uber and Airbnb! | VC Jobs

Venture Curator • 359 implied HN points • 30 May 24
💼 Business Marketplaces Venture Capital Startups
  1. The Chicken and Egg Problem is common in marketplace-type businesses, requiring both supply and demand to succeed.
  2. Successful startups like Tinder, Airbnb, and Uber found creative solutions to attract their first users and overcome the challenge of building a two-sided platform.
  3. Timing is crucial for startups; being in a small market that is growing quickly can greatly increase your chances of success.

Deus Ex Machina

imetatronink • 1611 implied HN points • 09 Dec 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Reality Morality Perception Existence
  1. The world is described as a place filled with engineered plagues and masks as symbols of love.
  2. There is a critique on society where the rich thrive and the poor are content with their circumstances.
  3. The text raises the idea that intelligence is now manufactured to serve human needs.

We don't need to just make up fantasy stories

Economic Forces • 21 implied HN points • 26 Feb 26
💼 Business Labor markets Economics Macroeconomics Industry Analysis Automation AI Market Theory
  1. GDP accounting means output turned into income never just disappears; if automation shifts income from workers to capital owners, that money gets spent or saved and fuels other parts of the economy.
  2. Prices provide a natural brake: cheaper AI-driven supply pushes prices down, which tends to raise demand or shift consumption and prevents an endless negative spiral unless a specific blocking mechanism exists.
  3. You can’t extrapolate from a few firms to the whole economy — comparative advantage and new consumer demand lead people and firms to reallocate into new roles, so automation changes jobs and wages but doesn’t automatically cause total collapse.

GPT-5 and the arc of progress

Democratizing Automation • 902 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
🕹 Technology Software Product Development Data Analysis Innovation AI
  1. GPT-5 has been received with mixed feelings because it didn't fully meet the high expectations set before its launch. However, most users find it effective and beneficial.
  2. The upgrade in GPT-5 focuses on balancing performance, price, and user experience, making it one of the more affordable AI options.
  3. Progress in AI will continue, but it may be slower than some hope. The industry is shifting towards practical improvements over radical breakthroughs.

Daylight swiping

Vague Blue • 778 implied HN points • 19 Mar 24
🕹 Technology User Interaction Gaming Algorithms Mobile Apps
  1. The evolution of the swipe gesture, popularized by Apple, has changed how we interact with technology, from unlocking phones to scrolling through social media.
  2. The swipe has become ingrained in modern culture, especially through dating apps like Tinder, where it serves as a rapid filter for potential matches.
  3. Continuous swiping on apps can create a sense of infinite possibilities but can also lead to mindless behavior, trapping users in a cycle of seeking without finding.

o1 Turns Pro

Don't Worry About the Vase • 3449 implied HN points • 10 Dec 24
🕹 Technology AI Models Computing Software Development Innovation Programming
  1. The o1 and o1 Pro models from OpenAI show major improvements in complex tasks like coding, math, and science. If you need help with those, the $200/month subscription could be worth it.
  2. If your work doesn't involve tricky coding or tough problems, the $20 monthly plan might be all you need. Many users are satisfied with that tier.
  3. Early reactions to o1 are mainly positive, noting it's faster and makes fewer mistakes compared to previous models. Users especially like how it handles difficult coding tasks.

Briefing: Super Google Sheets, Netflix’s app snub, Finding Nimo

Department of Product • 1238 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Mobile Software Tech Companies Apps
  1. Notion integrates Indie calendar Cron into a new standalone Calendar app for sharing with stakeholders.
  2. Numerous plugin enhances Google Sheets with generative AI for tasks like creating formulas and translating text.
  3. Netflix's decision not to build a dedicated app for visionOS is a setback for Apple, while Nimo gains popularity as a lighter AR alternative.

8 Forecasts & Implications for the Years Ahead :: 2024+

Implications, by Scott Belsky • 1356 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Education Entertainment Organizational Design Data Analysis
  1. The future will be personalized to your preferences, with digital experiences tailored to you.
  2. Local OS-native AI models will improve everyday life and redefine consumer AI, focusing on personalization, trust, and privacy.
  3. Small brands will become more competitive with big brands, AI will influence purchase decisions, and education will undergo a significant transformation.

A strange set of starter packs

Conspirador Norteño • 40 implied HN points • 14 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Social media Network Analysis Security
  1. An obscure Bluesky account created dozens of themed starter packs—most within an hour—including a “Tech News” pack whose addition matched a sudden surge of new follows to about 27 tech reporters and outlets in October 2025.
  2. Many of the new followers were low-quality or fake accounts: newly created, with few or no posts, plagiarized profile photos, identical link spam, and posts advertising account sales or obvious scams.
  3. The spam followers likely come from multiple operators rather than one single network, and the starter packs appear to have been used or abused to drive bulk follows and scam-related activity on the platform.

Analog Revival

The Analog Family • 599 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
🕹 Technology Consumer Technology Digital Culture
  1. People are starting to prefer simpler technologies, like 'dumbphones,' because they allow more focus on what's important in life. This shift shows that not all tech is good for every situation.
  2. There’s a growing trend of designing homes without tech features, creating spaces that feel relaxing and timeless. Many want a break from constant digital distractions at home.
  3. Some folks are embracing analog experiences, like offline cafes, to reconnect with real-life moments. It's about finding balance and realizing that not all new technology makes life better.

Weekend thoughts: Buffett's Wells Fargo Opportunity Cost $WFC

Yet Another Value Blog • 1159 implied HN points • 27 Jan 24
💰 Finance Portfolio strategy Investing Stocks Opportunity Cost Valuation
  1. The concept of an opportunity cost stock is important in investing for making trade offs and decisions.
  2. Buffett's choice of Wells Fargo as his opportunity cost stock highlights the importance of timeless industries and consistent returns.
  3. Flexibility and adaptability are crucial in managing opportunity cost stocks as circumstances and information change.

A Billion-Dollar Fraud In Plain Sight

Where's Your Ed At • 10237 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
💰 Finance Regulation Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Bankruptcy
  1. Gemini's
  2. Earn
  3. program misled customers into investing in risky lender Genesis Capital.
  4. The NY Attorney General filed a significant fraud suit against Gemini, Genesis, and Digital Currency Group for misleading customers and covering up losses.
  5. The Winklevoss twins actively deceived customers, putting billions of dollars into an unstable lender and reaping profits while customers faced losses.

Pity the Harvard Undergrad

In My Tribe • 865 implied HN points • 07 Aug 25
💼 Business Artificial Intelligence Job Market Consulting Employment Technology
  1. AI is quickly taking over jobs that used to be done by humans, especially in fields like law and finance. This means fewer entry-level jobs for new graduates.
  2. Harvard graduates may need to find jobs that mix different skills, like working with people and technology, to stay relevant and employed.
  3. In the future, almost all jobs that rely on writing or analysis will involve software development. Graduates will need to think like software developers to stay valuable in the job market.

Aristotle on Luck

Classical Wisdom • 2181 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
📖 Philosophy Ethics Epistemology Ancient Philosophy Logic Metaphysics
  1. Aristotle distinguishes between luck and chance, pointing out that luck involves events that occur unexpectedly without necessity or regularity.
  2. Luck requires conscious decisions and human intent, while chance is simply a coincidental occurrence without purpose.
  3. Understanding luck and chance can lead to philosophical questions about the universe and our existence.

Code “Smells”?

Software Design: Tidy First? • 2181 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Software Development Programming
  1. Code that works might still be problematic if it's hard to understand or change later on.
  2. It's important for programmers to focus on writing code that not only works now but is also easy to change in the future.
  3. The analogy of 'code smells' is like food that smells bad: a warning of potential future issues in the code.

Thou-Shalt-Not Do Anything

Variations on a Theme • 1178 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Civilization Freedom Ethics Liberty Morality
  1. Banning everything everywhere is becoming a popular trend, with bans ranging from travel during emergencies to gas stoves, books, and even youth tackle football.
  2. History shows that rebels who defy bans are often celebrated, with real-life examples like the Russian Samizdat and fictional heroes like those in Star Wars and The Matrix.
  3. The moral dilemma of banning things to create ‘proper civilization’ clashes with the concept of individual freedom and audacity, leading to questioning the effectiveness and morality of banning practices.

Weekend projects: Sketchy Sketch

lcamtuf’s thing • 3060 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Electronics Programming DIY Projects Software Hardware
  1. A new version of the Etch-A-Sketch toy, called Sketchy Sketch, was created to be more user-friendly and modern. It uses digital controls for drawing and animating, unlike the old mechanical version.
  2. The Sketchy Sketch is built using a microcontroller and a display, allowing kids to create pixel art easily. It has a simple menu system and saves multiple images.
  3. The project shows that it's fun and rewarding to build something from scratch. The creator shares the parts and code online, encouraging others to try similar projects.

The case against living in the Bay Area, for ambitious tech people

Cloud Irregular • 3548 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
💼 Business Tech industry Venture Capital Startup Culture Market Dynamics Entrepreneurship
  1. Living in the Bay Area might not be necessary for tech success. There are many ways to build a successful career outside of that bubble.
  2. The traditional SaaS business model may not be as effective anymore. Companies should focus on creating value in other ways beyond just software.
  3. A balanced team is better than one dominated by technical skills. Recognizing the importance of marketing, sales, and other roles can lead to better business outcomes.

3 Products That Influenced Me

Tech Ramblings • 19 implied HN points • 14 Sep 24
🕹 Technology Product Design Innovation Software Development User Experience Tech industry
  1. The iPhone changed how we think about technology. It shows that controlling both hardware and software can lead to incredible innovation.
  2. Tesla focuses on making things simple and helps users learn through experiences. This approach makes the product easier to use and reduces complexity.
  3. Amazon Web Services made it quick and easy to start an online business. It built a strong foundation by allowing teams to create interconnected services, speeding up product development.

Don't build a platform... unless?

lcamtuf’s thing • 2856 implied HN points • 23 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Programming Gaming Platforms Software Entrepreneurship
  1. Building a platform is hard and often not worth the effort. It's usually better to focus on creating a good product first.
  2. To make a successful platform, you need to either find a unique idea, have a strong personal following, or get backing from big companies.
  3. Having good code isn’t enough to make a platform thrive; you need visibility and support from the right people to attract users.

The Free Press App Is Here!

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 1080 implied HN points • 17 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Media Communication Apps Digital Content Software User Experience
  1. The Free Press has launched a new app for easy access to all their content. You can find everything from articles to podcasts in one convenient place.
  2. The app allows you to listen to articles, watch video podcasts, and get notifications on topics you care about. It's designed to keep you updated with the latest stories.
  3. You need to be a paying subscriber to access all content, but you can still read some free articles. The app is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play Store.

What I'm preparing for in 2026

next big thing • 48 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
🕹 Technology Consumer AI Healthtech Energy Startups Enterprise
  1. Agentic AI will move beyond coding into real-world tasks. We'll see impressive demos and useful production agents, but also limits that leave people underwhelmed or unsettled.
  2. Enterprise AI in 2026 will be judged on hard ROI like revenue and cost savings, driving consolidation around platforms that clearly deliver value, while consumer AI will lean into fun, entertaining products that capture attention.
  3. Energy will become a major bottleneck for scaling AI, prompting big investments in power and data center infrastructure that will shape where and how AI capacity grows next year.

Tesla's Latest Proxy Statement Is Materially Misleading

lawrence’s Substack • 459 implied HN points • 09 May 24
💼 Business Legal issues Corporate Governance Ethics
  1. When public companies solicit shareholder votes, they must provide accurate and complete information in proxy statements to avoid being misleading or false.
  2. Tesla's April 17 proxy statement has critical flaws, such as omitting details about the DOJ investigation into Tesla's self-driving claims and failing to disclose pertinent information about Kathleen Wilson-Thompson's ties to the company.
  3. Legal challenges are expected regarding Tesla's attempt to reinstate Musk's 2018 compensation plan, especially due to deficiencies in the proxy statement.

Essay Club: The Extended Mind by Andy Clark and David Chalmers

Mind & Mythos • 159 implied HN points • 16 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Cognitive Science Cognition Philosophers Mind Beliefs
  1. The idea of the 'extended mind' suggests that our thinking isn't just in our brains; it includes tools and objects around us. For example, using a calculator isn't just a help; it's part of how we think.
  2. The authors argue that relying on external objects, like notebooks or smartphones, can be essential for forming beliefs and ideas, similar to how we use our memories. This means our minds can extend into the world around us.
  3. While some people disagree with this view, saying real thinking should only happen in our heads, the authors believe that our connections to our environment and the tools we use are important parts of how we think and behave.