Hacker News launch workflow
Show HN launch playbook for technical SaaS
Use this when the product has a working demo, a specific technical workflow, and enough implementation detail to survive skeptical comments.
Audience
Technical founders launching devtools, AI utilities, or workflow SaaS to Hacker News
Validation metric
Quality comments, focused feedback, demo clicks, and waitlist signups from Hacker News readers.
Launch steps
- Choose one painfully specific user and workflow instead of a broad market claim.
- Write a Show HN title that names what you built and who it helps.
- Add two concrete build details: data source, constraint, integration, or technical tradeoff.
- Show the before/after workflow in one short paragraph.
- Ask for focused feedback on the workflow, not generic praise.
- Route readers to one landing page CTA: try the demo, join the waitlist, or request examples.
Pitfalls to avoid
- Avoid generic AI hype; Hacker News readers punish vague marketing copy.
- Do not launch without a visible demo, screenshot, or concrete artifact.
- Do not argue defensively in comments; collect objections for the next landing-page iteration.
Related templates
Related examples
Paid-pack validation
Turn this workflow into a show hn pack
Preview the $19 show hn pack hypothesis for this workflow. Every click and signup helps separate real monetization intent from generic newsletter interest.
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