Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, Tumblr, and other web platforms, announced a restructuring that will impact approximately 17% of its workforce. The company cited challenging economic conditions and the need to prioritize profitability as the primary drivers for the decision. While acknowledging the difficulty of these changes, Automattic emphasized its commitment to supporting departing employees with severance packages and resources to aid in their job search. The restructuring is intended to streamline operations and focus resources on key growth areas, ultimately positioning the company for long-term success in a changing market.
Notetime is a minimalist note-taking app that automatically timestamps every line you write, creating a detailed chronological record of your thoughts and ideas. It's designed for capturing fleeting notes, brainstorming, journaling, and keeping a log of events. The interface is intentionally simple, focusing on quick capture and easy searchability. Notes are stored locally, offering privacy and offline access. The app is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux.
Hacker News users generally praised Notetime's minimalist approach and automatic timestamping, finding it useful for journaling, meeting notes, and tracking progress. Some expressed a desire for features like tagging, search, and different note organization methods, while others appreciated the simplicity and lack of distractions. Concerns were raised about the closed-source nature of the app and the potential for vendor lock-in, with some preferring open-source alternatives like Joplin and Standard Notes. The developer responded to several comments, clarifying the reasoning behind design choices and indicating openness to considering feature requests. Discussion also touched on the benefits of plain text notes and the challenges of balancing simplicity with functionality.
Stack-Ranker is a simple web app designed to help users prioritize any list of items. By presenting two items at a time and asking users to choose which is more important, it uses a sorting algorithm similar to merge sort to efficiently generate a ranked list. The resulting prioritized list can be copied or saved for later, and the tool offers the ability to import lists and randomize order for unbiased comparisons. It's pitched as a lightweight, no-frills solution for quickly prioritizing anything from tasks and features to movies and books.
HN users generally expressed skepticism about the "stack ranking" method proposed by the website. Several commenters pointed out that simply making lists and prioritizing items isn't novel and questioned the value proposition of the tool. Some suggested existing methods like spreadsheets or even pen and paper were sufficient. There was a discussion around the potential for overthinking prioritization and the importance of actually taking action. The lack of a clear use case beyond basic list-making was a common criticism, with some users wondering how the tool handled more complex prioritization scenarios. Several users also expressed concerns about the website's design and UI.
The author explains their extensive use of Org Mode, an Emacs extension, as a powerful, all-encompassing tool beyond simple note-taking. They highlight its flexibility for managing writing projects, from initial brainstorming and outlining to drafting, editing, and publishing. Org Mode's structured format, using plain text and simple markup, facilitates easy reorganization, version control with Git, and export to various formats like HTML and PDF. The author demonstrates how features like tags, links, and the ability to embed code and results directly into documents make it ideal for technical writing, literate programming, and project management, ultimately creating a unified system for knowledge creation and organization.
Hacker News users generally praised the article for its clear explanation of Org Mode's benefits and the author's workflow. Several commenters shared their own experiences and tips for using Org Mode, highlighting its versatility for tasks beyond writing, such as project management and note-taking. Some discussed the learning curve associated with Org Mode, acknowledging its initial complexity but emphasizing the long-term payoff. A few users mentioned alternative tools, but the overall sentiment leaned towards appreciating Org Mode's powerful features and extensibility. The discussion also touched upon the advantages of plain text and the philosophical appeal of owning your data.
Johnny.Decimal is a system for organizing digital files and folders using a hierarchical decimal system. It encourages users to define ten top-level areas of responsibility, each numbered 00-09, and then subdivide each area into ten more specific categories (00.00-00.09, 01.00-01.09, etc.), and so on, creating a logical and easily navigable structure. This system aims to combat "digital sprawl" by providing a clear framework for storing and retrieving files, ultimately improving focus and productivity. By assigning a decimal number to every project and area of responsibility, Johnny.Decimal makes it easier to find anything quickly and maintain a consistent organizational structure.
Hacker News users discussed Johnny.Decimal's potential benefits and drawbacks. Several praised its simplicity and effectiveness for personal file management, noting its improvement over purely chronological or alphabetical systems. Some found the 10-area/100-file limit too restrictive, preferring more granular or flexible approaches like tagging. Others questioned the system's long-term maintainability and scalability, especially for collaborative projects. The decimal system itself was both lauded for its logical structure and criticized for its perceived rigidity. A few commenters mentioned alternative organizational systems they found more effective, such as PARA and a Zettelkasten approach. Overall, the comments suggest Johnny.Decimal is a viable option for personal file organization but may not suit everyone's needs or work style.
Glad & Co's "Paper Apps" are physical, paper-based versions of common digital applications like calendars, to-do lists, and project trackers. Designed with a focus on tactile engagement and visual simplicity, these products aim to offer a screen-free alternative for organizing and managing daily tasks. They utilize reusable components like magnets, cards, and dry-erase surfaces, allowing for dynamic updates and customization. The collection includes various formats, from wall-mounted boards to notebooks, catering to different planning needs and preferences. Ultimately, Paper Apps seek to combine the flexibility of digital tools with the tangible satisfaction of physical interaction.
Hacker News users generally expressed skepticism and amusement towards the "Paper Apps" concept. Many questioned the practicality and value proposition of physical paper versions of digital apps, particularly given their cost. Some saw them as a novelty or gag gift. Several commenters pointed out the irony of meticulously recreating digital interfaces in a physical format, highlighting the inherent limitations and lack of functionality compared to their digital counterparts. Others drew parallels to existing paper-based productivity tools, suggesting the idea wasn't entirely novel. A few appreciated the aesthetic and tactile aspects, but the overall sentiment leaned towards viewing them as a whimsical but ultimately impractical exercise.
TalkNotes is a website that transforms free-form text into actionable tasks. Users input their thoughts, ideas, or meeting notes, and TalkNotes uses AI to identify and extract tasks, assigning due dates and prioritizing them based on context. The platform aims to simplify task management by eliminating the need to manually parse and organize notes, allowing users to focus on brainstorming and ideation while ensuring follow-up actions are captured and scheduled. It offers a clean and intuitive interface for managing the generated tasks and integrating them into existing workflows.
HN users generally expressed skepticism and criticism of TalkNotes. Several pointed out existing, more robust solutions like Todoist, Mem, or even simple note-taking apps. The core critique revolved around the limited functionality of TalkNotes, particularly the lack of editing capabilities and organizational features beyond basic tagging. Some questioned the value proposition of converting spoken thoughts directly into tasks, suggesting it might lead to an overwhelming and unmanageable task list. The perceived simplicity of the site was also seen as a negative, with commenters arguing it didn't offer enough to justify its existence over readily available alternatives. A few users suggested potential improvements, such as adding editing and task management features, but the overall sentiment leaned towards finding the current iteration too basic.
TMSU is a command-line tool that lets you tag files and directories, creating a virtual filesystem based on those tags. Instead of relying on a file's physical location, you can organize and access files through a flexible tag-based system. TMSU supports various commands for tagging, untagging, listing files by tag, and navigating the virtual filesystem. It offers features like autocompletion, regular expression matching for tags, and integration with find. This allows for powerful and dynamic file management based on user-defined criteria, bypassing the limitations of traditional directory structures.
Hacker News users generally praised TMSU for its speed, simplicity, and effectiveness, especially compared to more complex solutions. One commenter highlighted its efficiency for managing a large photo collection, appreciating the ability to tag files based on date and other criteria. Others found its clear documentation and intuitive use of find commands beneficial. Some expressed interest in similar terminal-based tagging solutions, mentioning TagSpaces as a cross-platform alternative and bemoaning the lack of a modern GUI for TMSU. A few users questioned the longevity of the project, given the last commit being two years prior, while others pointed out the stability of the software and the infrequency of needed updates for such a tool.
The original poster is seeking alternatives to Facebook for organizing local communities, specifically for sharing information, coordinating events, and facilitating discussions among neighbors. They desire a platform that prioritizes privacy, avoids algorithms and advertising, and offers robust moderation tools to prevent spam and maintain a positive environment. They're open to existing solutions or ideas for building a new platform, and prefer something accessible on both desktop and mobile.
HN users discuss alternatives to Facebook for organizing local communities. Several suggest platforms like Nextdoor, Discord, Slack, and Groups.io, highlighting their varying strengths for different community types. Some emphasize the importance of a dedicated website and email list, while others advocate for simpler solutions like a shared calendar or even a WhatsApp group for smaller, close-knit communities. The desire for a decentralized or federated platform also comes up, with Mastodon and Fediverse instances mentioned as possibilities, although concerns about their complexity and discoverability are raised. Several commenters express frustration with existing options, citing issues like privacy concerns, algorithmic feeds, and the general "toxicity" of larger platforms. A recurring theme is the importance of clear communication, moderation, and a defined purpose for the community, regardless of the chosen platform.
Tired of missing important emails hidden by overly complex filters, Cory Doctorow deactivated all his email filtering. He now processes everything manually, relying on search and a "processed" tag for organization. This shift, though initially time-consuming, allows him to maintain better awareness of his inbox contents and engage more thoughtfully with his correspondence, ultimately reducing stress and improving his overall email experience. He believes filters fostered a false sense of control and led to overlooked messages.
HN commenters largely agree with the author's premise that email filters create more work than they save. Several share their own experiences of abandoning filtering, citing increased focus and reduced email anxiety. Some suggest alternative strategies like using multiple inboxes or prioritizing newsletters to specific days. A few dissenting voices argue that filters are useful for specific situations, like separating work and personal email or managing high volumes of mailing list traffic. One commenter notes the irony of using a "Focus Inbox" feature, essentially a built-in filter, while advocating against custom filters. Others point out that the efficacy of filtering depends heavily on individual email volume and work style.
Summary of Comments ( 199 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43559855
Hacker News commenters on the Automattic restructuring announcement largely focused on the perceived contradiction between Automattic's emphasis on distributed work and the layoffs. Several commenters questioned how a company so committed to remote work could justify laying off employees ostensibly to improve collaboration and communication, suggesting that the real reason for the layoffs was likely financial. Others expressed skepticism about the stated reasoning, pointing to the generally difficult economic climate and the potential for overhiring during the pandemic. Some speculated about the impact on WordPress.com's future and the perceived shift in focus towards enterprise clients. A few commenters offered more supportive perspectives, acknowledging the challenges of managing a distributed workforce and the need for companies to adapt to changing market conditions. There was also discussion about the potential benefits of smaller, more focused teams.
The Hacker News post titled "Restructuring Announcement" linking to an Automattic restructuring announcement has generated a significant number of comments discussing various aspects of the changes.
Several commenters analyze the language used in the announcement, noting the emphasis on "efficiency" and "prioritization" as potential euphemisms for cost-cutting measures, particularly given the mention of a challenging macroeconomic environment. Some express skepticism about the stated reasons for the restructuring, speculating that it might be a preemptive move towards an IPO or a reaction to slowing growth.
A few commenters focus on the impact of the restructuring on the affected employees, expressing sympathy and concern for those losing their jobs. They discuss the potential difficulties of finding new employment, especially in the current tech climate, and question the fairness of the severance package offered. There's also discussion around the potential impact on product development and the future direction of Automattic. Some users share personal experiences with similar restructuring events at other companies, offering insights into the potential long-term consequences.
A recurring theme is the observation that Automattic, despite being a large and successful company, is not immune to the pressures facing the broader tech industry. This leads to a broader discussion about the cyclical nature of the tech sector, the impact of remote work on company culture, and the challenges of maintaining growth in a maturing market.
Some comments express surprise at the seemingly sudden nature of the announcement, given Automattic's reputation for distributed work and employee autonomy. Others speculate about the internal dynamics that might have led to this decision, considering the company's unique organizational structure. There's a discussion about the potential benefits of the restructuring, with some arguing that it could lead to a more focused and efficient organization in the long run.
Finally, several comments delve into the specifics of the affected teams and projects, speculating about the potential impact on Automattic's product portfolio and the future development of platforms like WordPress.com and WooCommerce. Some express concern about the potential loss of institutional knowledge and the impact on the open-source community.