2007 founded Standing
news · news.ycombinator.com
Hacker News
the moat is real
19 years 182 days and counting
Paul Graham, 2007, originally Startup News. The beige list that still runs a slice of the industry.
Why it lasted
- It is ugly, slow to change, and moderated like a dinner party. That is the filter.
- A link on HN still moves product, hiring, and narrative for a specific class of builder.
- There is no growth team. The lack of one is the brand.
Times it almost ended
- Every clone (Lobsters is the nice one) takes a slice. The room at YC did not move.
- Show HN and hiring still work, which is a rare sentence about a 2007 forum.
What would finish it
- pg and dang stepping away without a steward who understands the garden. The software is the least of it.
Questions
Is Hacker News still up?
Yes, with a Standing verdict: the moat is real. Founded 2007.
How long has Hacker News been around?
Hacker News has been up since 2007-02-19.
Why did Hacker News survive?
It is ugly, slow to change, and moderated like a dinner party. That is the filter.
Could Hacker News still die?
pg and dang stepping away without a steward who understands the garden. The software is the least of it.