Hacker News Reader

OP developer here. I am excited to share my beautiful new Hacker News client with you all. After building apps in Objective C for many years, this is my very first all Swift app. I finally decided to transition completely to Swift when Apple announced it's stable enough to be bundled with the 12.2 iOS itself.

I have been working non stop for the past 3-4 weeks on this app with 5-6 hours of sleep and working till 7 am to get it done. I am super excited to finally have it released and am open to feedback.

Features which make my app stand out to other clients and hacker news on browser -

- Swipe on a post or comment to upvote or favorite.

- Reply to comments and posts from the app.

- Dark theme - both pure black as well as light gray. It is free on a per session basis. If the app is relaunched, it will default to light theme. You can purchase a small one time in app purchase to unlock it permanently.

- 10 font choices and many color themes

- iPad support with Split View

- Landscape and Portrait support

- All known hacker news endpoints - News, front page, Ask HN, Show HN, Show HN Newest, classic, active, best stories, best comments, new stories, new comments, noob stories, noob comments, jobs, over 100-500 points

- Powerful Search powered by Algolia API. You can sort search by adding "@date". Search for stories only by adding "#story", comments by adding "#comments". Search for a story by a particular user by adding "#story,author_username" etc

- Beautiful UI (I understand my opinion is biased though).

- No ads, No subscriptions.

Many other features which I would let the app speak for itself.

I am available here for any questions and feedback to make the app better!

Hack Premium in-app purchase is only for the dark theme?

Ed: the privacy policy sure is a bit too scary for me. But good luck!

That privacy policy was linking to my other app. I just updated my app store page and it should link to the correct privacy policy. Please have a look now and let me know if you have questions.

It's available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qbrebrvkxn5cthv/hackprivacypolicy....

“The app does not send or collect any data to us.”

Nice and easy, I like it!

Regarding the premium features, I think they’re a solid idea. The OLED users have a thousand dollar phone anyway, and for the regular phone users white screens are I believe 0,4% more power efficient or something, and they can turn on dark mode for late night reading comfort. Plus, I think it’s good to pay for apps.

Font wise I think Source is an excellent screen font, so I am happy that’s the default but I would also not dislike the default being SF.

I love the button to go down the comment thread.

Really nice app, thanks.

Edit: wow the automatic reader mode on links is the best thing I’ve ever seen in an app. (I don’t have many apps installed to be fair)

Thanks! Yes, I made SF the default font in the update to be released tomorrow. Also added features like font resize, disabling haptic feedback etc. Should be available tomorrow!

The IAP lets you change fonts, tint color for buttons and the dark mode theme is unlocked permanently. I didn't want to lock the dark mode for free users - so free users can still enable dark mode but it's on a per session basis. When the app is relaunched (closed from the app switcher or killed by the OS), it defaults to the light theme for free users. I thought this was a good balance for free users and also have the ability to use dark mode permanently.

That's a very clever way to let users test drive dark mode.

There was a HN client posted a couple weeks ago, but virtually all settings and customization was locked behind IAP. Without being able to really try the app at all, I just uninstalled it.

Thanks, yes I thought I would rather have the user be able to try the dark mode before buying as I would expect the same from other apps.

Would be nice to be able to try out the other settings such as don't like this as well so we easier could make an assessment of the app, I'd gladly pay if it solves the largest quriks/issues I have with the app I'm currently using, but I'd like to try it out properly first.

That’s a fair point, I will consider making other paid features included on a per session basis too!

Thanks for that. It's a great idea to let people try the feature out.

Congrats on shipping!!

Some quick feedback: Haptic Feedback, too much. Please don't do it on every push/pop.

Home page a bit overloaded, not very clear what the default HN page is. News? Front? Classic?

Comment and upvote count not too prominent enough. These two, together with the headline are what you glance for when scrolling the feed.

Personally I feel on the XS font size seeems a bit too big, seems about right for a normal app, but for a HN-Reader I'd go one smaller (for everything basically).

Yea, the haptic feedback wasn't supposed to be there for the push/pop/back button. It's a bug, I already fixed it and submitted to Apple, it will be available in an update tomorrow.

I will be adding a setting to change font sizes in an update. I can also add a different row view with the comment and upvote count more prominent.

The home page items are the same endpoints which HN has as can be found here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/lists

The classic as per HN uses the same ranking system, but only counts votes from very early/older users:

https://news.ycombinator.com/classic

Hey! So I released an update today which adds settings to change the font size for story title, text and metadata. It also removes the haptic feedback for back, setting and search buttons. Plus a setting to disable it entirely.

There will also be another update tomorrow available which will also add ability to edit the padding around elements to make it as compact as you like which lets you see more content on screen. Check out the screenshots of what it would look like after tomorrow’s update (note that all sizes will be fully customizable to your liking):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wd2n18vh77y94of/AAC5bwOI1xWL1rtuL...

I will also add auto hide on scroll for the top UI elements. I was going to add it today but the font stuff took priority.

I will also add a way to make a page the home page on launch.

Let me know what you think and any other feedback!

Is is too much of an ask if you can add a filter option?

For example I do not want to see post titles containing a certain keyword or from a certain popular domain.

That's a good idea, I can add that filter option in an update!

Thank you for considering this. This is what I am using to filter HN currently.

https://github.com/sid-kap/hackernews-filter

The one thing I'd pay for is a scheduled dark/ample -mode like with night shift. Prefably dark sunset to sunrise and light during the day. But a timed schedule would do as a 90% solution. Currently I use different apps during day and night for this reason.

Thanks for the feedback, I will add that feature in an update!

Was this perhaps inspired at all by the Materialistic Hacker News app for Android? It has most of those features you listed :)

No, it wasn’t actually, even though I do own an android device too as I make android apps, I don’t use it as my primary device. So not familiar with the android store much.

The app is great! It so smooth and a true iOS citizen

However I have a hard time finding my bearings because I use http://hckrnews.com almost exclusively and I've gotten used to the way it works: it displays a chronological list of posts that made it to the front page. This way it's easy to find interesting posts and discussions, as well as what's new. I'm a completionist and I like to see everything and make sure I've not missed anything.

Would it be possible to have something similar? I hope so but I understand that it may be a lot of work and that you'd not be willing

Also, that makes me think: it'd be great to be able to specify a view to open the app on, instead of the list menu

Anyway, thank you and congrats for the launch!

Thank you for the feedback, I am going to take your feedback and implement it in the app. I will get back to you in the next few days!

I need a new HN app and am giving it a try! Is downvoting/flagging in there or just upvoting?

Currently I don’t have downvoting and flagging because I don’t have enough karma to test it lol. I will add it in as soon as I have enough karma here to test.

Then I’ll upvote you, heh. Flagging should only require around 30 karma IIRC.

The interface is great though, I’m really liking it.

I will check the flagging feature! You will love tomorrow’s update too, I am adding more customization to allow more compact views so you can see more content.

Generally, I like it.

One bit of feedback is that you’re using the same (or at least similar) arrow for upvoting as you are in other places to collapse a thread. And I found that confusing.

It seems a little redundant to include both the upvote arrow, and upvote by swipe.

But looks great.

Regarding the arrow, what arrow are you referring to for collapsing a thread? There's no arrow for collapsing. You collapse comments by tapping on them. The arrow on the comment is for up voting which can also be done by swiping on a comment. Am I misunderstanding the issue?

I’m referring to the arrow where I’m a goof and didn’t pay close enough attention to how I was using the app! :)

I’d have sworn when I hit the arrow the comment thread collapsed. But when I read your reply and went back in to try, you’re clearly correct.

Thanks for clarifying.

Actually I think you are right too. I think it has to do with the upvote button’s hit area being too small so sometimes it overflows to outside the button and collapses the thread instead. I will see what I can do to fix it.

Looks like a nice app. I do suggest updating the privacy policy. As far as I can tell - this is not Sudoku Extreme.

Oops. That privacy policy was linking to my other app. I just updated my app store page and it should link to the correct privacy policy. Please have a look now and let me know if you have questions.

It's available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qbrebrvkxn5cthv/hackprivacypolicy....

I’ve been waiting for an app to support “mark as read” to avoid seeing the same stuff again. :(

Mind elaborating a bit on what you mean? Like mark as read on posts/stories? I could add it in.

Hopefully it’s OK to mention competitor iOS clients - but Octal does grey out read items.

What would be even more useful is a mode where if I decide not to read certain posts (based on their titles) by scrolling past them, I'd like to have them automatically marked as "seen" so I won't have to read their titles again.

How does it work, given that the Hacker News API doesn't seem to support write access?

Looks lovely, but crashing when trying to login. It simply quits.

That's strange, would you mind emailing me from the app using the "Send feedback"? I would like to troubleshoot the issue to fix it.

Will do right now.

Same issue here.

It will be fixed tomorrow. It was an URL encoding issue.

The update for password issue is now available, can you give it a try?

Looks like Apollo (the Reddit client) for Hacker News. Very nice!

Thanks for creating it. I won’t switch for one major UX reason: the controls. There is insufficient contrast between them and the content, and they float over the content. It is too distracting. I am using your dark mode on an X. Also the content goes into the status bar. I personally prefer dedicated, highly contrasted control areas. Maybe I am just old.

Dark mode on XS Max. Love the low contrast of metadata and controls compared to white content.

Noticed the content going under clock on iPad Pro landscape but not bothering me on iPhone. On iPad it is using translucency but perhaps not enough of a fade out.

OP Developer here. Make sure to update your app to the latest version. I added a "Blur text behind status bar" setting which will avoid the text going behind status bar issue. Let me know if you have questions!

OP Developer here. The latest update from yesterday fixes those issues. The text behind status bar issue is fixed and also there is a new setting to "Blur behind status bar". The navigation controls also auto-hide on scroll so they are not distracting. Give it a try and let me know if you have feedback!

I would like the ability to add multiple accounts (ala Reddit), which can be easily switched. Thanks. Truly loving the app!

Thanks for the feedback! I do plan on adding it in in an update.

The design is too custom for me. E.g. the custom font looks out of place on iOS. The custom navigation controls too.

Thanks for the feedback! The app does let you change the font (right now it's locked behind the IAP but I can include the iOS default San Fransisco font in the free in an update). Do you think I should make it the default font?

+1 for San Francisco :)

Made it the default in the update to be available tomorrow!

I would prefer UIFont.systemFont by default. I like apps that blend in with the OS nicely instead of “native websites”.

Ok, I will change it in an update tomorrow!

Today’s update makes SF the default font! It also adds settings to change the font size for story title, text and metadata. There will also be another update tomorrow available which will also add ability to edit the padding around elements to make it as compact as you like which lets you see more content on screen. Check out the screenshots of what it would look like after tomorrow’s update (note that all sizes will be fully customizable to your liking):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wd2n18vh77y94of/AAC5bwOI1xWL1rtuL...

If you want a more native looking one give Octal a try. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/octal/id1308885491?mt=8

It’s giving me what I assumed is a wrong password feedback (login form shakes and a short haptic feedback), but I’m 100% sure the data is correct (password manager and pasted the values both into the website and the app to double check). I guess it’s an URL encoding issue, there’s a '&' in it

Can you try with tomorrow’s/today’s update when it gets approved to see if it fixes it? I fixed a URL encoding issue for the special characters and should be available soon when they approve it.

The update with password fix is now available if you wanna give it a try?

I recommend you redo the icon (HN?). Having an icon that reads “HACK” for an app named “HACK” is odd to me.

Haha yea, my brain really wasn’t functioning enough anymore at 7am when I was submitting the app. I need to be a bit more creative with the icon. I will decide on something better in an update!

Like it. Will use it for a bit and see what I think.

Things so far:

- please update that privacy policy ;) - entries when scrolling in dark mode can be a bit “jittery” - thank you for the reader view in safari option

One more - is it possible to edit the font size as well as the style? I like it small! (Others might like it large)

Regarding the font size, it doesn't use the system wide font size because during my testing, I found it wasn't reliable for the custom fonts as the same size would look different for different fonts. I will include a way to change the font size in an update (either tomorrow or the next one, I need to see how much change I will have to make in the code). I will add it in.

+1 for font size options. And don't skimp on the range. I'm not sure you can have a too-small option. HN is textually dense. That's one of the things that makes it nice - no photos, just people talking. Continuing with that feel is good.

Hey! So I released an update today which adds settings to change the font size for story title, text and metadata.

There will also be another update tomorrow available which will also add ability to edit the padding around elements to make it as compact as you like which lets you see more content on screen. Check out the screenshots of what it would look like after tomorrow’s update (note that all sizes will be fully customizable to your liking):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wd2n18vh77y94of/AAC5bwOI1xWL1rtuL...

Let me know what you think and any other feedback!

Hey! So I released an update today which adds settings to change the font size for story title, text and metadata.

There will also be another update tomorrow available which will also add ability to edit the padding around elements to make it as compact as you like which lets you see more content on screen. Check out the screenshots of what it would look like after tomorrow’s update (note that all sizes will be fully customizable to your liking):

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wd2n18vh77y94of/AAC5bwOI1xWL1rtuL...

Let me know what you think and any other feedback!

That privacy policy was linking to my other app. I just updated my app store page and it should link to the correct privacy policy now. Please have a look now and let me know if you have questions. Are you using the pure black theme? Can you try disabling the pure black to see if the dark gray helps with the jitter?

I am not sure why, but I can't login with my account. My password is >40 characters, I am not sure if it is being clipped somehow?

Knowing issue. URL encoding. Will be fixed soon.

Posting from your new app. Could you make the font size setting configurable? I’d like to make it a touch smaller than the default.

Yep, already submitted that feature update and waiting for Apple’s approval hopefully today! Let me know when you try it!

Thanks! So happy to have given you my measly $2.99. Keep up the good work!

Today’s update is available with font size customization! Tomorrow’s update will also add more customization to reduce the padding to make it as compact as you like!

You've done big work, and many of us appreciate it. Hope we'll see updates on it, because you receive a lot of feedback.

Thanks yep, I released an update today which is based off the feedback I got. Made San Francisco the default font, added ability to change font sizes, removed haptic feedback for back button etc. Tomorrow’s update adds even more customizability to make it as compact as needed! Stay posted!

It’s crashing for me at login. Fill out the form, click submit, crash. iOS 12.2 iPhone XS.

Yep, I figured out the issue to do with URL encoding for a few special characters. I already fixed it and submitted the update to Apple for review. It should be available tomorrow! Sorry about the inconvenience.

Hey, my update from yesterday should fix the login issue! Let me know if you still have issues.

Installed - looks like the "front page" view is from yesterday.

It gets the feeds directly from HN website. So whatever content you see on the /front in your browser is what shows in the app. Do you see a difference?

I'm seeing the same thing: 'News' and 'Classic' gives me an up to date (i.e., matching what I see on the Web site) view, whereas 'Front' is from yesterday.

I wonder if this has something to do with the timezone/location? Does your front show you different than what you see if you go to https://news.ycombinator.com/front

?

https://news.ycombinator.com/front gives me precisely what I see on 'Front'. Browsing from Denmark, CET.

Not sure. I know another HN app on my phone was showing me what I expected to see. Are you doing any caching of content?

Nice!

Show HN: Hack – new Hacker News iOS client with swipe to upvote, favorite, reply