Ask HN: What are you working on? (June 2026)

Hacker News Discussion ↗

AI agents and infrastructure

  • Many projects focus on building, hosting, and orchestrating agents: coding agents, multi-agent systems, MCP servers, Temporal-based workflows, and agent sandboxes (microVMs, containers, jailed environments).
  • Common goals: reliable “hands-off” code implementation, tool calling, token efficiency, durable long-running workflows, and safe secret handling (runtime security, PoP tokens, vault proxies).
  • Several tools wrap local models (llama.cpp, Apple local models) or expose heterogeneous local GPUs over networks, aiming to reduce dependence on cloud LLMs.
  • Some contributors report strong results from agentic optimization (e.g., code speedups) but anticipate community skepticism about “AI slop.”

Local‑first, privacy, and search

  • Strong thread of local-first and privacy-respecting apps: note-taking, personal CRMs, journaling, baby trackers, fitness dashboards, and system-wide ad blockers.
  • New alternative search engines and search layers (Uruky, Astrolabe for Nextcloud, self-hosted web/file search like Hister, local search tools) emphasize EU hosting, transparency, and no tracking.
  • Several “no-AI” or “human-only” platforms push back on generative content; some commenters suggest optional agent access could aid adoption.

Developer tools, infra, and languages

  • Many devtools: Kubernetes and Docker GUIs, high‑performance logging and regex search, apt caches resilient to upstream outages, git-based deployment systems, CLI utilities, and customizable WMS.
  • New languages and compilers: TypeScript checker in Rust, C package manager “like Cargo,” tensor DSLs, MLIR/Lean/Idris experiments, SAT solvers, and interpreters focused on provable correctness.
  • Multiple attempts to make web dev saner: opinionated stacks, typed DSLs for ML, repo-structure linters, and “browser for agents” or “text editor for agents.”

Games, education, and creative projects

  • Substantial indie game activity: city builders, puzzle games, party platforms, MMO tools, and educational titles for kids (math, chess, programming).
  • Creative tech includes audio languages, generative music tools, plotter art, jewelry based on math/CS, interactive books, and camera/animation tools.
  • Discoverability is a recurring pain point; many builders mention that coding is easier than getting players or users.

Health, wellbeing, and self‑tracking

  • Projects span asthma tracking, calorie/TDEE estimation, tinnitus logging, elder monitoring, stroke-recovery support, fitness and running coaches, sobriety tracking, and “soul cultivation” writing.
  • Some founders seek feedback on failed crowdfunding, questioning whether ideas were weak or just poorly marketed.

Debate and skepticism

  • Notable sub‑discussion around universal basic income in a city‑builder sim: disagreement over likely tax impacts, inflation, housing costs, and whether financial security improves or worsens social outcomes.
  • HR tech based on automated CV scoring draws concern about bias, legality (especially in Europe), and over‑reliance on keyword matching versus experience.
  • Several people explicitly step back from projects to manage burnout, focus on offline skills, or re‑evaluate AI’s role in their work.