Ask HN: What are you working on (September 2024)?

Hacker News Discussion ↗

AI, LLMs & Automation

  • Many are building AI-powered tools: code editors that modify ASTs, prompt diffing for rich-text editors, outline tools for NaNoWriMo, language-learning-in-browser overlays, and AI transcription/translation/captioning platforms.
  • Several focus on multi-agent or “copilot” systems (for underserved languages, data analysis, game analytics, medical claims, etc.).
  • Prompt management and “AI agents everywhere” draw both enthusiasm and skepticism; some note that many use cases are crowded and hard to monetize.
  • Concerns about model reliability, instruction-following, and costs appear often; people experiment with hybrid stacks (DeepL + Claude + smaller models) and local models to balance quality, latency, and expense.

Developer Tools, Infra & Data

  • Many are shipping dev tooling: SaaS boilerplates, OAuth/OIDC wrappers, DuckDB/SQLite/SQL workbenches, task runners, browser extension frameworks, build tools (Mill), GitHub add-ons, and CI-like orchestrators.
  • Infra-heavy projects include: a Postgres-on-FoundationDB layer, AWS-focused dashboards, event tracking frameworks, NixOS + Compose tooling, serverless VPNs, and security/governance tools for cloud and SBOMs.
  • Some emphasize ergonomics and safety (Rust assert macros, safer rm/cp replacements, anti-procrastination DNS hacks, “offline-first” GitHub clients).

Consumer Apps, Content & Games

  • Numerous personal SaaS/consumer projects: todo lists, nutrition trackers, book and media recommenders, hotel systems, social travel, language tools, trading dashboards, genealogy, photo sharing, and more.
  • Game dev is a big theme: NES rhythm roguelikes, Godot/Unity projects, Minecraft-likes, Wonderswan titles, Playdate games, browser games, and VR/room-scale titles.
  • Several people are writing novels, historical fiction, zines, and technical books; others run newsletters, blogs, and educational content.

Hardware, Robotics & Real-World Projects

  • Hardware efforts span: retro Mac/HomeAssistant bridges, printers and POS sniffers, battery systems, PCB extensions for sensors, MIDI and music gear, drones, e-bike integrations, vacuum-tube CPUs, AI research clusters, and aircraft restorations.
  • Non-tech projects include woodworking, greenhouses, welding sculptures, bookbinding, rebuilding studios with 90s gear, and opening a local bookshop.

Life, Learning & Meta-Discussion

  • People share life changes: OMSCS enrollment, new parenthood, long-COVID recovery, returning to study, or taking breaks from coding.
  • Several are trying to quit or reduce Hacker News/social media use; others suggest technical and behavioral tricks.
  • Marketing is frequently cited as harder than building; some discuss struggles turning niche tools into sustainable businesses.