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How to get on the front page of Hacker News (in 7 lines of Python) 12 years ago

import togreatcontent
import datetime, isgoodtime
def frontPage (yourcontent):
    if isgoodtime == True:
        togreatcontent(yourcontent)
    else:
        print "Wait until later http://hnpickup.appspot.com/"

Traceback (most recent call last): File "", line 1, in ImportError: No module named togreatcontent

Wait, there's no "content" module in Python? I thought this shit was magic?

Do we really need to hack Hacker News? The answer for founders launching their startups is yes, and Hacker News will respect your attempts to reach the front page and upvote your new venture. For individuals though? Why don't we get this out of the way and never speak of it again: post at a good time and post great, relevant content.

Hacker News is the little corner of the internet where legitimately interesting content rules the day. Where comments are helpful and interesting, despite an upswing in negative and myopic comments. Where the heroes who blazed the path for us new founders actually hang out and actively seek to help and give advice. I'm not sure all the "Get on the Front Page of Hacker News" posts really belong.

I've been on the front page twice: for my startup thecityswig.com and on this very blog yesterday. But after I got there yesterday, I didn't instantly try to think about how I hacked my way on there. I just think the blog was interesting to some people. In fact, this post was inspired by this title last night not actually reaching the front page.

So let's keep the advice for getting there at this: post at a good time. 7:30EST, 10:30EST, 5:00 EST, or 8:00 EST and write, share, or better yet BUILD interesting content. That's it. Don't try to game it any other way.

And you know what? The front page will find you. Trust me. It will. That's what it's for. If it doesn't, unless it was for the launch of your startup, go back to the drawing board and write or find better shit.

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