The hottest Substack posts right now

according to Hacker News
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Missionaries vs. Mercenaries

DeFi Education • 859 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🔮 Crypto Technology Decentralization Market Dynamics Investing Regulation
  1. Crypto is a mix of two types of people: missionaries, who believe in its mission, and mercenaries, who seek profit. Both play important roles in shaping the market.
  2. Binance's CEO, CZ, is an example of someone who started looking for profit but grew to value the cryptocurrency mission. His journey shows how these roles can change over time.
  3. The recent settlement with U.S. regulators could signal a shift towards more oversight in crypto, which might make it safer and attract institutional investors, but it could also limit the freedom that originally attracted many to the industry.

Only the best marketing campaigns of 2025

The Social Juice • 70 implied HN points • 03 Jan 26
💼 Business Marketing Agencies Retail Consumer Advertising Branding Media
  1. Brands leaned into bold, attention-grabbing creative across 2025, using pop-ups, OOH, stunts and viral social films to build real brand energy.
  2. Collaborations and celebrity partnerships powered many of the biggest campaigns, and the new COLLAB Index mixes consumer data with cultural scoring so marketers can choose partners that actually move people.
  3. AI and ethics emerged as major marketing issues, with debates about AI-generated content and trust alongside more brands taking public stances on social causes.

Measuring Programmer Influence, Kinda Sorta

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1347 implied HN points • 27 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Project management Software Development Data Analysis Programming
  1. Data can provide hints about a programmer's influence, but it can't give a clear answer. It's important to interpret the data with caution and avoid making strict decisions based solely on it.
  2. Creating files is one way to measure initiation of influence, but it's not the only factor. The impact is also determined by how frequently those files are modified by others.
  3. Using data for bonuses or promotions can lead to problems. It's better to focus on improvement and impact rather than just the numbers, to maintain a healthy team dynamic.

David Friedman vs. Michael Huemer

In My Tribe • 546 implied HN points • 05 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Decision-making Debate Expertise Critical Thinking Epistemology
  1. It's important to think critically and understand arguments for yourself, instead of just trusting experts.
  2. Picking the right expert to trust is hard because different experts can have different opinions on the same issue.
  3. When choosing an expert, look for someone who thinks in a way that makes sense to you and can clearly explain their views.
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In awe of InVision

Product Identity • 59 implied HN points • 21 Aug 24
🕹 Technology Design tools Startup Culture Community Building Product Development
  1. InVision is shutting down, marking the end of a significant era in design tools. Many people feel nostalgic about what InVision contributed to the design community.
  2. Despite its financial struggles, InVision played an important role in shaping design culture and education. It connected designers and provided valuable resources.
  3. The story of InVision shows that a company can have a lasting impact on its industry even if it doesn't succeed as a product. Building community is often more valuable than just providing tools.

Problems at Hindenburg Research

The Bear Cave • 1982 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
💼 Business Research Finance Investing Reporting Media
  1. Hindenburg Research has been accused of copying or closely mirroring reports made by The Bear Cave without giving credit. This includes similar wording and findings in their investigations.
  2. The Bear Cave has done extensive work on issues such as safety and child abuse on platforms like Roblox, which Hindenburg has also reported on without mentioning The Bear Cave's previous contributions.
  3. There are growing concerns about the ethics of Hindenburg's reporting practices, as many see it as taking credit for others' research without acknowledgment.

When the Old-Timers Go Marching In (Part 1) [i]

Black Mountain Analysis • 569 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🌐 International Defense Conflict Military Alliance Modernization
  1. The article discusses the use of old air defense missile systems in recent wars, highlighting their continued relevance and effectiveness despite their age.
  2. Various countries have modernized the 2K12 Kub (SA-6) system, improving detection range, reliability, and engagement capabilities to extend the system's service life.
  3. In conflicts like the Yemen civil war, the 2K12 system has been utilized, showcasing potential for ambushing and targeting coalition aircraft with modified IR-homing missiles.

Caterpillar to Butterfly

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1237 implied HN points • 14 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Expertise Scaling Software Consulting Design
  1. As organizations grow, the need for specialist skills becomes more important. It's not enough to have hobbyists; experts are needed to handle complex tasks.
  2. When specialist teams form, their priorities might clash with client teams' needs. Client teams often want quick fixes, while specialists aim for quality work.
  3. To handle increased requests, organizations should empower client teams to solve their own issues. This self-service approach helps manage workloads and creates better efficiency.

The Second Desert in Venture Capital

Venture Reflections • 29 implied HN points • 02 Feb 26
💼 Business Investor Relations Succession Leadership Governance Fundraising Venture Capital
  1. The first "desert" (Funds I–III) is about survival: raising initial funds, proving your right to win, and juggling operations, investments, and LP relationships to stay alive.
  2. After you clear that phase you enter a second "desert" where the challenges shift to long-term firm questions like longevity, succession, and whether you’re truly established.
  3. The mid-stage can feel lonely and ambiguous: early peers and mentors thin out, fundraising dynamics change, and you need new advisors and skills to navigate this uncertain transition.

[GB200 NVL72] The Mainframe of Doom

Irrational Analysis • 339 implied HN points • 30 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Semiconductors Datacenters AI Graphics
  1. Nvidia's GB200 NVL72 poses an existential threat to competitors in the datacenter CPU market, offering a unique 2:1 ratio and improved integration perspective.
  2. The reintroduction of mainframes signifies a strategic move by Nvidia, with the new AI mainframe/appliance providing massive TCO advantages and performance gains.
  3. Jensen's benevolent trade offer complements technical excellence in the face of political challenges, aiming to secure Nvidia's position in the market and potentially disrupt the status quo.

Where Steve Jurvetson Sees Dead Companies

The Geek Way • 399 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
💼 Business Innovation Economics Industry Management Technology
  1. Software proficiency is crucial in modern business - companies need to adapt and iterate quickly to stay competitive.
  2. Legacy companies face challenges in transitioning to modern software practices and may struggle to keep up with agile competitors.
  3. The 'geek way' of upgrading a company involves more than just technology - it extends to decision-making, culture, and overall organizational strategy.

Movers, Shakers, & Money Makers #2

Human Capitalist • 458 implied HN points • 18 Mar 24
💼 Business Industry Trends Corporate strategy Job Changes Leadership Career growth
  1. Several notable professionals recently changed jobs, showcasing their expertise in various industries, like AI, space, and cybersecurity.
  2. These job changes highlight the importance of strong leadership in tech and data-driven sectors, suggesting that skilled leaders can significantly impact a company's growth.
  3. Monitoring job changes can provide valuable insights for investors, recruiters, and professionals looking to network or track talent in their industry.

Resilient Cyber Newsletter #5

Resilient Cyber • 79 implied HN points • 16 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Cloud Security Vulnerability Management Federal Policy Cybersecurity AI Security
  1. CISA's Red Team was able to infiltrate a federal agency and remain undetected for five months, highlighting vulnerabilities in government cybersecurity practices.
  2. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has published new cybersecurity priorities for FY26, focusing on modernizing defenses and improving open-source software security.
  3. Google is close to acquiring the cloud security company Wiz for $23 billion, a move that could strengthen its position against competitors like Microsoft and AWS.

AI #89: Trump Card

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1881 implied HN points • 07 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Policy Regulation Innovation AI Infrastructure
  1. Trump's potential return to office could change AI policy significantly. He plans to revoke existing regulations but may not have a clear replacement, which could impact the tech landscape.
  2. Language models are becoming more important in everyday tasks, but they also face challenges. While they improve productivity, they can also lead to decreased job satisfaction for users.
  3. There is growing concern about AI's influence on politics and decision-making. Studies show that AI models can affect voters' opinions, highlighting the need for caution in how they are used.

☀ The Doomsday Clock needs a pro-progress switch to the Genesis Clock

Faster, Please! • 1370 implied HN points • 29 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Innovation Automation Research AI
  1. The Doomsday Clock is getting closer to midnight, signaling the world's increasing dangers like nuclear threats and climate change. We need a new way to measure progress, like the Genesis Clock, which focuses on humanity's advancements.
  2. The Genesis Clock would celebrate achievements in technology and health, such as extending human lifespans or solving major diseases. It encourages us to look forward to positive developments instead of just fearing potential disasters.
  3. AI can be our collaborative partner, helping us work better together rather than taking jobs away. It's about designing AI that complements human skills and enhances our research and creative processes.

Postmodernism and the Failure of Moral Triage

Peter Boghossian • 1061 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
📖 Philosophy Critical Theory Education Social justice Identity politics Postmodernism
  1. The problem with peer review in academia is highlighted by the replication crisis in fields like psychology and biological sciences.
  2. Rejecting the ideas of science can lead to dangerous notions like limiting access to truth based on immutable characteristics.
  3. The shift towards woke ideology in education and social psychology has contributed significantly to the propagation of postmodernist ideas.

Putting the (Insta)cart before the Grocery (horse): A COVID Favorite's Reality Check!

Musings on Markets • 1059 implied HN points • 19 Sep 23
💼 Business Financial trends Market Analysis Entrepreneurship E-commerce
  1. Instacart's upcoming IPO shows that its value has dropped significantly since the peak days of the pandemic. What was once thought to be worth over $50 billion is now expected to be valued around $9 to $10 billion.
  2. The grocery business is generally slow-growing and has very low margins. This affects how much Instacart can charge for its services and makes it tough for them to grow dramatically.
  3. Instacart now faces tough competition from grocery stores that have started their own online services. This competition is likely to limit Instacart's market share and growth in the future.

AI Trends for 2026

Artificial Ignorance • 100 implied HN points • 17 Dec 25
🕹 Technology Software Machine Learning AI Platforms Policy Infrastructure Product
  1. Agents and harnesses are now the bottleneck, not just bigger models — layering planning, tools, state, and workflows on strong models is what’s unlocking reliable multi-step behavior in real products.
  2. The core LLM primitives (tool use, search, code sandboxes, file editing, memory, personas) have mostly settled, and the next big win is standardizing interfaces and conventions so developers can wire them together consistently.
  3. Interactions are moving beyond turn-based chat toward always-on, real-time collaboration where humans and AI co-edit and co-operate, and better UX plus streaming/agent orchestration will make that feel natural.

Should publishers trust Google Discover?

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 424 implied HN points • 08 Aug 25
💼 Business Media industry Advertising Content Strategy Publishing
  1. Many news publishers are becoming too reliant on Google Discover for traffic, which can be unpredictable and not as valuable as it seems. This can lead to a cycle of chasing trends without producing meaningful content.
  2. Writing and selling books can be tough for authors because the financial rewards are often not worth the effort put in. Many writers find that they make much less from book sales compared to what they earn in their regular jobs.
  3. For publishers to succeed today, focusing on building a loyal audience and diversifying their income streams is crucial. This can include prioritizing paid subscriptions, newsletters, and community engagement.

How Will Financial Scams Affect Big Business in 2025?

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1326 implied HN points • 31 Jan 25
💰 Finance Scams Economics Market Trends Financial Technology
  1. Financial scams are expected to impact big businesses in various ways by 2025. Companies will need to be more aware of these risks.
  2. There will be discussions on how different sectors, like private equity and tech, handle these scams. These sectors are likely to face unique challenges.
  3. A virtual summit is happening where experts will talk about these trends and share insights. It's a chance for everyone to learn and ask questions.

On Time.

The Future Does Not Fit In The Containers Of The Past • 65 implied HN points • 28 Dec 25
📖 Philosophy Metaphysics Epistemology Aesthetics Phenomenology Ethics Existentialism
  1. Time is our most important and limited asset. How we spend our days ultimately shapes the life we get to live.
  2. Big gains in careers and projects come from patience and steady effort over years, not just short bursts of intensity, so lengthen your time horizon and be persistent.
  3. Everything is impermanent, so losses are inevitable—notice and cherish what you have, take chances, make memories, and keep embracing change.

Ticker Take: a weekly newsletter on investing.

Jon’s Newsletter • 59 implied HN points • 29 Jul 24
💰 Finance Stocks Investing Markets Economics Cryptocurrency
  1. Tech stocks have faced some tough times lately, with a drop in the NASDAQ 100. Investors are cautious and waiting to see how major companies perform in their earnings reports.
  2. During election years, financial and tech stocks typically do well, showing good returns. This trend is backed by past market behaviors where these sectors get investor attention.
  3. Investing in copper appears shaky right now due to issues in China’s property market, but experts still believe in its long-term potential, especially linked to renewable energy needs.

Improving Servant Leadership

Polymathic Being • 47 implied HN points • 18 Jan 26
💼 Business Organizational Design Leadership Management Culture Strategy Teams HR
  1. Good leadership already includes both service and direction, so carving out a separate "servant" category is unnecessary and can encourage people to skip core leadership duties.
  2. Overemphasizing the "servant" label often produces passive-aggressive leaders who avoid giving direction, confronting problems, or taking responsibility, which creates confusion, delays, and erodes trust.
  3. The remedy is to simply be a balanced leader: serve your team while also setting direction, enforcing standards, making hard calls, and adapting your approach to context.

Arguments with Interesting Leftists

David Friedman’s Substack • 548 implied HN points • 14 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Social justice Anarchism Ethics Political theory
  1. There's a key difference in how people view politics. Some see it as a battle between good and evil, while others think it's more about ideas that are right or wrong.
  2. When discussing problems in society, it's important to consider evidence and outcomes instead of just taking sides. Understanding the consequences of different policies can lead to better solutions.
  3. Sometimes beliefs about the world can blind people to facts. Instead of assuming only one viewpoint is right, it's better to stay open-minded and think critically about different perspectives.

Don't grab the brass ring, grab the copper pipe

Sunday Letters • 59 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
🕹 Technology UX AI Development Internet Infrastructure
  1. Focus on building the essential tools and infrastructure first. These are often overlooked but are crucial for long-term success.
  2. Reaching for groundbreaking goals is important, but make sure the technology is ready. Many ideas are great, but timing matters.
  3. While big ideas attract attention, don't forget about solving smaller, tougher problems that can support those ideas. Both are important for progress.

Anyone Else Struggling to Keep Up With Data Tools

SeattleDataGuy’s Newsletter • 447 implied HN points • 31 Jul 25
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Data Tools Consulting Project management Data science
  1. Focus on mastering just a couple of technologies each year instead of trying to learn everything at once. It’s better to really understand a few tools well than to have a surface-level knowledge of many.
  2. Start with the basics that won’t go away, like SQL and core principles of data management. New tools can come and go, but some fundamentals will always be important.
  3. Build side projects or engage in real work opportunities to apply what you've learned. Practical experience is one of the best ways to deepen your understanding of data tools.

How I Made My First Million Online

Day One • 479 implied HN points • 17 Feb 24
💼 Business Content creation Online Marketing Community Building Product Development Monetization
  1. Choose a platform that fits your content format and engage with your community to build a loyal following.
  2. Creating products/services should revolve around solving your community's problems, listen to their struggles and offer solutions.
  3. Consistently create quality content, engage with others, and focus on helping people to build a successful online brand.

Python 3.13, what didn't make the headlines

Bite code! • 1957 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🕹 Technology Development Programming System Tools Software
  1. Python 3.13 introduces improvements in debugging tools like PDB, making it easier to work with errors and set breakpoints. This is a big win for developers who rely on debugging in their workflow.
  2. The shutil module has seen many bug fixes and enhancements, which means working with files and directories will be more reliable. Developers can finally use it without constant worries about it failing.
  3. There are small but useful updates for concurrency in Python, such as changes to asyncio and task management. These little updates add up to make handling multiple tasks easier and more efficient.

22nd Century Group: Answering the Wrong Question

Invariant • 609 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
💰 Finance Market Analysis Companies Regulation Investing Stocks
  1. 22nd Century Group focused on developing low-nicotine cigarettes but didn't consider if consumers wanted the product.
  2. The company struggled with profitability and faced challenges even after receiving authorization for their products.
  3. Shifting focus to a different product with conventional nicotine levels came too late for the company to recover.

Lesser Gods: AI Creativity, Neuroscience and the Future of Work

rebelwisdom • 1277 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🕹 Technology Future of work Neuroscience AI Artificial Intelligence Creativity
  1. Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly and poses a threat to jobs in various professions.
  2. Creativity is a complex process that involves combining elements and requires a human understanding of meaning.
  3. While AI can mimic creativity, true creativity is a deeper, more nuanced connection to reality that goes beyond mere replication.

How I Will Measure My Life

Software Design: Tidy First? • 1259 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
📖 Philosophy Decision-making Intuition Tradeoffs
  1. Not everything in life can be measured or compared. Some experiences, like special family dinners or random acts of kindness, are unique and important in ways that numbers can't capture.
  2. Money can create options for us, but not all money is equally valuable for choices. Having enough savings can open up more possibilities, but beyond a point, additional money may not significantly change your options.
  3. Freetime is valuable because it allows you to choose how you spend your time. More freetime means more opportunities to pursue interests, but sometimes a little extra isn't as important once you reach a comfortable level.

YouTube Shorts Averages Over 200 Billion Daily Views

The Algorithmic Bridge • 626 implied HN points • 24 Jun 25
🕹 Technology Content creation Digital ethics Social media Algorithms User Behavior
  1. YouTube Shorts gets over 200 billion views every day, showing how much time people spend watching them. But that high number raises concerns about how this attention is being used.
  2. Many tech creators focus on making money rather than improving people's lives. This leads to products that can harm instead of help, especially for younger users.
  3. There's a growing pushback against technology that doesn't benefit society. People are becoming aware and rejecting approaches that prioritize profits over well-being.