The author poured significant effort into creating a "philosophically aligned" AI chatbot designed for meaningful conversations, hoping it would resonate with users. Despite their passion and the chatbot's unique approach, it failed to gain traction. The creator grapples with the disconnect between their vision and the public's apparent lack of interest, questioning whether the problem lies with the AI itself, the marketing, or a broader societal disinterest in deeper, philosophical engagement. They express disappointment and a sense of having missed the mark, despite believing their creation offered something valuable.
A developer created a minimalist podcast player for iOS called Podcatcher, built using the Racket programming language. It supports basic features like subscribing to RSS feeds, downloading episodes, and background playback. The project aims to explore the viability of Racket for iOS development, focusing on a simple, functional app with a small footprint. The developer highlighted the challenges of working with Racket on iOS, including compilation times and integrating with native APIs, but ultimately found the experience positive and plans further development, including potential Android support.
HN users generally praised the developer's choice of Racket, expressing interest in its capabilities for iOS development. Some questioned the viability of Racket for mobile development, citing concerns about performance and community size compared to established options like Swift. A few users shared their own experiences with Racket and suggested improvements for the app, such as adding iPad support and offline playback. Several commenters expressed interest in trying the app or exploring the source code. The overall sentiment was one of curiosity and encouragement for the project.
Creating Augmented Reality (AR) experiences remains a complex and challenging process. The author, frustrated with the limitations of existing AR development tools, built their own visual editor called Ordinary. It aims to simplify the workflow for building location-based AR experiences by offering an intuitive interface for managing assets, defining interactions, and previewing the final product in real-time. Ordinary emphasizes collaborative editing, cloud-based project management, and a focus on location-anchored AR. The author believes this approach addresses the current pain points in AR development, making it more accessible and streamlined.
HN users generally praised the author's effort and agreed that AR development remains challenging, particularly with existing tools like Unity and RealityKit being cumbersome or limited. Several commenters highlighted the difficulty of previewing AR experiences during development, echoing the author's frustration. Some suggested exploring alternative libraries and frameworks like Godot or WebXR. The discussion also touched on the niche nature of specialized AR hardware and the potential benefits of web-based AR solutions. A few users questioned the project's long-term viability, citing the potential for Apple or another large player to release similar tools. Despite the challenges, the overall sentiment leaned towards encouragement for the author and acknowledgement of the need for better AR development tools.
Summary of Comments ( 76 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43120802
Hacker News commenters largely sympathized with the author's frustration, pointing out the difficulty of gaining traction for new projects, especially in a crowded AI space. Several suggested focusing on a specific niche or problem to solve rather than general capabilities. Some criticized the landing page as not clearly conveying the product's value proposition and suggested improvements to marketing and user experience. Others discussed the emotional toll of launching a product and encouraged the author to persevere or pivot. A few commenters questioned the actual usefulness and novelty of the AI, suggesting it might be another "me-too" product. Overall, the discussion centered around the challenges of launching a product, the importance of targeted marketing, and the need for a clear value proposition.
The Hacker News post "I put my heart and soul into this AI but nobody cares" (linking to an article on newslttrs.com) generated a substantial discussion with a variety of viewpoints.
Several commenters empathized with the author's frustration, acknowledging the difficulty of gaining traction for a project, especially in a crowded AI space. They offered practical advice, suggesting focusing on specific niches, improving marketing strategies, and exploring alternative monetization options beyond subscriptions. Some highlighted the importance of validating the product's value proposition and ensuring it addresses a genuine need in the market. One commenter pointed out that building something truly unique and valuable takes time and persistence, encouraging the author not to give up.
A recurring theme was the challenge of standing out amidst the hype surrounding AI. Commenters discussed the current "AI gold rush" and how it can be difficult for smaller projects to compete with well-funded companies and established players. Some suggested focusing on building a strong community around the project and engaging directly with potential users to gain feedback and build momentum.
Several comments focused on the importance of marketing and distribution. Some suggested exploring partnerships, collaborations, and content marketing strategies to reach a wider audience. Others emphasized the need for a clear and concise message that effectively communicates the value proposition of the AI tool. One comment suggested focusing on specific use cases and demonstrating how the tool can solve real-world problems.
Some commenters offered technical feedback, suggesting improvements to the user interface, functionality, and overall user experience. They encouraged the author to iterate based on user feedback and continuously improve the product.
Finally, some comments offered a more philosophical perspective, reminding the author that not every project needs to be a commercial success. They highlighted the intrinsic value of creating something challenging and the importance of learning from the experience, regardless of the outcome. Some suggested open-sourcing the project as an alternative to pursuing commercialization.
There was a notable absence of outright negativity or dismissive comments. The overall tone of the discussion was supportive and constructive, with many commenters offering genuine advice and encouragement to the author.