We’ll be ending web hosting for your apps on Glitch

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

What Glitch Was and Why People Used It

  • Described as an easy, free platform to create/edit/host frontend plus Node.js/Express backends.
  • Valued for rapid experimentation, small tools, teaching, and “playground” deployment without setup.
  • Key for some communities (e.g., A-Frame / WebVR) as an on-ramp for beginners, including students building 3D/VR projects very quickly.
  • Some note it was abused by bad actors, and that monetization never really worked.

User Reactions and Impact

  • Many express sadness; Glitch is framed as one of the first of its kind and an important learning/teaching tool.
  • Concern about loss of numerous small creative projects and whether any preservation effort exists.
  • Some praise the “respectful” tone and 6‑month post‑closure asset access; others point out that actual migration time is ~6 weeks and call that too short.

Confusion and Critique of the Announcement

  • Multiple commenters say the post is unclear about whether this is effectively a full shutdown.
  • Ending project hosting and profiles is widely interpreted as “end of Glitch as a platform,” despite claims it’s not an “Our Incredible Journey” shutdown.
  • Several call the messaging evasive or “sugarcoated,” more focused on narrative than plainly stating “we are shutting down.”

Search for Alternatives & Hosting Philosophies

  • Suggestions range from: cheap VPS (LowEndBox-style providers), cloud free tiers (GCP/OCI), Raspberry Pi/mini‑PC + Cloudflare or Tailscale tunneling, to tools like Coolify, StackBlitz, Deno Deploy, gitlip.com, pico.sh, GitHub Pages + browser IDE.
  • Some specifically need collaborative online editors with instant preview, which many alternatives don’t fully replicate.

Security, Self‑Hosting, and Cheap VPS Debate

  • Disagreement over how hard it is to securely run a public server: some warn you “must constantly patch or be hacked,” others say that’s overblown with unattended upgrades and simple hardening.
  • Cheap VPS performance and oversubscription are noted (CPU steal, latency), but still seen as fine for low‑traffic or static sites.

Speculation About July 8 and Regulation

  • Several notice Pocket and Glitch shutting down on the same date; some think it’s coincidence, others tie it to a new DOJ Data Security Program deadline.
  • There’s argument over whether this regulation is actually relevant to Glitch or Pocket; overall connection is labeled speculative and unclear.

Broader Reflections

  • Nostalgia for Fog Creek legacy and the old Glitch MMO.
  • Comments on the pattern of VC‑backed startups: build something beloved, raise money, exit to a bigger company, then get shut down.
  • Brief mention of Glitch’s short‑lived tech union and how little attention its dissolution received compared to its formation.