Show HN: I am Building a Producthunt alternative

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

A new site aiming to replace Product Hunt draws interest but also skepticism from founders and makers frustrated with how easily Product Hunt can be gamed. Commenters argue that yet another generic clone won’t succeed without a clear niche, stronger curation, and better product pages, and they heavily criticize the “Huntlie” branding, UX issues, and frequent 500 errors on launch. Many suggest focusing on specific use cases—like open-source catalogs or non-AI-wrapper tools—and emphasize that community, trust, and differentiated value matter more than copying Product Hunt’s model.

Perceived problems with Product Hunt

  • Many commenters feel Product Hunt is heavily gamed: success goes to those who can mobilize or spam the most votes.
  • Complaints about low‑quality launches (listicles, minor updates, shallow products) crowding out “real” products.
  • Some see PH as more of a time‑waster or marketing channel than a genuine maker community now.

Differentiation and Positioning of the Alternative

  • The new site proposes an “Instagram‑style” algorithm where users see all products once per visit regardless of votes; readers question whether this is actually desirable.
  • Multiple people argue that a generic PH clone cannot win; it needs a clearly unique angle and distribution strategy.
  • Suggestions include: niche directories (e.g., open source tools, non‑LLM wrappers, non‑commercial / free tools), and stronger curation to avoid spammy or shallow products.

Branding and Naming Feedback

  • The name “Huntlie” is widely criticized: many read it as “hunt lie” (negative, scammy), others as “hun tile” or otherwise confusing.
  • Several advise dropping “hunt” entirely to avoid looking like a knockoff and to choose a clearer, original brand.
  • Tagline “LAUNCHES WORTH YOUR SCROLL” is called cringey; alternatives like “next big thing” are discussed, with debate over ambiguous phrases like “next best thing.”
  • General advice: prioritize clarity over cleverness and add an “About” page that plainly explains what the site is and how it works.

UX, Reliability, and Feature Issues

  • Many reports of broken functionality:
    • Product submission fails (HTTP 500), especially when uploading icons or submitting forms.
    • Login, including Google sign‑in, often appears not to work; users see no change after logging in.
    • No way to edit/delete submitted products.
    • Required fields (icon, discount) are unclear; error messages appear even when data is supplied.
    • Switching between “newest” and “featured” jumps to the top of the list, which is annoying.
  • Some find the UI visually fatiguing (too many identical black buttons).

Desired Features and Improvements

  • Requests for:
    • Dedicated product pages with comments, reactions, screenshots, and the ability for makers to update posts.
    • Search, RSS feed, dark mode, and clearer submission flow.
    • Better moderation/curation to avoid PH’s drift toward marketers and discount‑driven “selling” rather than showing what people build.

Meta Views on Launch/Discovery Platforms

  • Several note there are already many PH alternatives; most struggle due to limited eyeballs and high founder supply.
  • Some argue PH’s early success came from strong personal evangelism and timing, not just the product itself.
  • A few users are enthusiastic and submit their products despite the bugs; others feel the site looks AI‑generated or unlikely to last.