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cryptography

664 karma · joined February 2, 2018

Hiya folks! My name is Abbas.

I'm a software engineer with a keen interest in space, physics, and math. Also the code captain for Beep (justbeepit.com) and Supabird.io.

Wanna contact, drop me a line me@kjuriousbeing.com

submissionscomments
cryptography··on Ask HN: Why Being in the US Mandatory for YC Companies? Even for Remote Jobs
I understand the need for restrictions in industries like defense, space, or healthcare, where compliance is crucial. However, I’m curious because this requirement seems to appear even for more general roles, like front-end positions at SaaS startups. What’s the logic behind applying such a restriction in those cases?
cryptography··on Ask HN: Why Being in the US Mandatory for YC Companies? Even for Remote Jobs
Making the company US-based makes perfect sense, especially given the regulatory landscape. I had a similar experience when one of the top accelerators required us to register the company in the US in order to secure investment. My question is about hiring:)
cryptography··on Ask HN: What are you working on? (October 2025)
My partner and I are working on Supabird.io (https://supabird.io), a tool to help people grow on X in a more consistent and structured way. It analyzes viral posts within specific communities so users can learn what works and apply those insights to their own content.

My partner shares our journey on X (@hustle_fred), while I’ve been focused on building the product (yep, the techie here :). We’re excited to have onboarded 43 users in our first month, and we're looking forward to getting feedback from the HN community!

cryptography··on Don't Become a Scientist (1999)
Here's what nobody talks about: the author was RIGHT about the structural problems.

But completely wrong about the solution.

The PhD glut? Real. The postdoc treadmill? Absolutely real. The funding crisis? Still here.

But here's what changed:

The same skills that make you survive a PhD—deep research, systems thinking, hypothesis testing, data analysis—became the EXACT skills the market desperately needs.

2025 reality: - AI companies hiring PhDs at $300K+ base - Biotech startups led by former academics - Data science roles requiring scientific rigor - Deep tech ventures solving real problems

The trap wasn't the PhD. The trap was assuming the ONLY path was tenure-track academia.

The researchers who thrived? They took their training and built different careers: → Industry R&D leadership → Technical founding teams → Quantitative roles in finance → Policy and strategy positions → Scientific consulting

The irony: that essay discouraged a generation from science right before scientific thinking became the most valuable skill set in the economy.

The lesson isn't "don't get a PhD."

It's "don't limit yourself to one narrow definition of what a scientist does."

The best training for solving hard problems is still solving hard problems.

You just get to choose which ones.

cryptography··on Ask HN: What are you working on? (September 2025)
Building SupaBird.io - reverse-engineering viral X content so you don't have to guess what works.

Here's the catch: most creators study top accounts but can't replicate their success. They miss the patterns.

Analyzed 1M+ tweets from top performers and built AI that doesn't just copy - it adapts their winning frameworks to your voice and niche.

One user went from inconsistent posting to systematic growth. The content quality jumped. The engagement followed.

Not promising follower counts. Promising you'll finally understand what actually converts on this platform.

cryptography··on X Open Sourced Algorithm Code, So I analyzed it to learn how to grow on X
The tip about replying quickly to early comments is key—having conversations early on seems like the best way to get your post seen imo.
cryptography··on Ask HN: Why Is Stack Overflow Fading Away?
Wow! Such a detailed response. That makes everything much clear. Thanks for sharing and the references!
cryptography··on Ask HN: Why Is Stack Overflow Fading Away?
Thank you all for the insightful comments. I appreciate how this community shares its thoughts with such care and knowledge. I agree that while GPTs handle simpler tasks effectively, complex questions have never been Stack Overflow's strong suit.

A project I’ve been working on started as a web annotation tool and has evolved into a visual task manager called JustBeepIt (https://justbeepit.com). Considering many of our users are developers, we observed that Stack Overflow wasn’t among the sites where users create tasks. This led me to question why it seems to be losing its prominence.

cryptography··on Ask HN: What are you working on (August 2024)?
https://www.justbeepit.com/ started as a web annotation tool that I hacked together with a friend. Now, it’s a full-fledged visual task management platform with over 2,000 users.

In 2022, I wondered what it would be like if my manager could leave comments directly on the live website for all the edits, rather than sending a bunch of screenshots and videos. That’s how I came up with the idea for a "simple" browser extension that lets you leave comments on any site, anywhere on the screen.

There were several challenges along the way:

Attaching Comments to the Correct HTML Element: I initially struggled with ensuring comments were attached to the right element, as relying on X/Y coordinates would not be responsive. Now, I use a combination of element IDs, classes, outer HTML, and attributes. This approach works correctly 95% of the time. Do you know of any other methods to find the correct element in the DOM?

No Third-Party Libraries: Extension development only allows pure HTML, CSS, and JS, with no external scripts from CDNs. Building a text editor from scratch was one of the most challenging parts.

Real-Time Functionality: Keeping the extension's background page active was tough because it deactivates when not in use, making it almost impossible to maintain a socket connection. I wrote code to wake up the background page and reconnect the socket whenever it goes to sleep.

I stopped all my freelance projects, and now three other people and I work on this tool full-time. We recently became #1 on Product Hunt: JustBeepIt.com

There are still many issues we're working on, such as using it with iFrames or inside scrollable objects, but we're tackling these challenges one by one.

cryptography··on Ask HN: Why Is Stack Overflow Fading Away?
here's some metrics: https://observablehq.com/@ayhanfuat/the-fall-of-stack-overfl...
cryptography··on Ask HN: Balancing SaaS and Hardware Skills–Experiences and Tips?
Hey! I’m not an electronics expert myself, and unfortunately, the course I’m taking isn’t available online. However, designing a custom PCB can definitely help you avoid soldering between separate boards. If you’re new to PCB design, tools like KiCad or Eagle are great for creating your layout. There are plenty of tutorials available that cover integrating modules and designing PCBs that could be really helpful for your project.
cryptography··on Ask HN: Balancing SaaS and Hardware Skills–Experiences and Tips?
I can see how having real-time updates right on your desk could be both motivating and practical :D Thanks for sharing this idea
cryptography··on Ask HN: What mistake do you regret the most as a startup founder?
One big regret I have is not prioritizing work-life balance sooner. I was so focused on growing the startup that I burned out and didn’t spend enough time with family and friends. It’s crucial to find that balance early on—it’s good for both your health and the company’s long-term success.
cryptography··on Show HN: Simple tool built for my manager is now becoming its own startup
In 2022 I asked myself, what if my manager could leave comments for me directly on the live website for all the website edits instead of sending bunch of screenshots and videos...

This is how I started with an idea of a "simple" browser extension that allows you to leave comments on any site, anywhere on the screen.

Spoiler, it was not SIMPLE

There were multiple steps where I though this is almost impossible: 1. I didn't know how to always attach the comment to the correct HTML element on the screen, I couldn't just use X/Y positions since then it wouldn't be responsive. Currently I have 4 ways I try to find the correct element. I use element's IDs, class , outerhtml and attributes. It works correctly in 95% of cases. P.s. Do you know any other ways to find the correct element in the DOM?

2. Not being able to use any 3rd party library for extension development since it is just pure HTML, CSS and JS... You can't even use scripts from CDN. I had to manually build a text editor which was one of the most painful things I had to.

3. Making it real time was another big pain. Extensions background page gets deactivated when not used, which means it is literally impossible to maintain a socket connection. But I was able to write a code that wakes up the background page every time it goes to sleep and connects the socket again.

I stopped all of my freelance projects and now me and 3 other people work on this tool full time, we recently became #1 on Product Hunt: "https://www.justbeepit.com/"

There are still many issues we are trying to solve such as using it on iFrames or inside scrollable objects, etc.. but we are tackling these issues one by one.

cryptography··on How to Be the Boss Everyone Wants to Work for in 2024
That's interesting! Do you guys planning to integration with other tools like Notion or smth?
cryptography··on A Philosophy of Software Design
Do you think this would be beneficial for a somewhat perplexed CTO of a newly seed-funded startup? Or would it be wiser for me to concentrate on my current responsibilities and return to this book when my mind is clearer? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and under pressure, and I'm concerned that reading this book might add to the chaos. I would appreciate your input.
cryptography··on Ask HN: How has the shift to remote work affected your SaaS pricing strategy?
So, the question I want to ask is how the shift to remote work - and the accompanying increase in dependence on digital tools - has affected the way SaaS companies price their products. For example, as businesses increasingly rely on certain types of software to manage remote work, has demand for these tools increased such that SaaS companies can charge higher prices? Or conversely, have SaaS companies needed to lower prices to stay competitive in a crowded market?
cryptography··on Ask HN: Digital Nomads, How Do You Navigate Bureaucracy While Living Abroad?
Nice work! I'm wondering if you've already updated your guides (or maybe you will soon) after the German government's recent reforms on immigration laws?
cryptography··on Ask HN: Digital Nomads, How Do You Navigate Bureaucracy While Living Abroad?
Please share your website. Would be interested in exploring it
cryptography··on Ask HN: What non-programming skills have been crucial in your tech career?
Absolutely agree. The ability to articulate complex technical concepts in a simple and understandable way is a highly valuable skill. It also bridges the gap between the tech world and non-tech individuals.
cryptography··on Ask HN: What non-programming skills have been crucial in your tech career?
And when you give credit where it's due, you create a culture of appreciation and respect. This not only boosts morale but also encourages more of the same behavior.
cryptography··on Ask HN: What non-programming skills have been crucial in your tech career?
Absolutely, humility and honesty are invaluable in any profession, and tech is no exception. Admitting when you don't know something opens the door to learning and growth, and acknowledging when you're wrong paves the way for problem-solving and innovation. It also builds trust within a team. Thanks for sharing this insight!
cryptography··on Ask HN: What open-source projects are you currently contributing to and why?
Nice! Your Super Star Trek re-implementation brings back some nostalgic feelings( ͡ ‿ ͡)
cryptography··on Ask HN: What open-source projects are you currently contributing to and why?
That leads to a tricky question then... Would you still contribute if you weren't employed there? ;)
cryptography··on Ask HN: Who is hiring? (June 2022)
Remove? :(
cryptography··on Show HN: I made a site where you can travel in space in your browser
Thanks for an interesting comment. I wouldn't say that the website states specifically about 'all engineering problems' but more a 'salesy' statement (also sounded several times by NASA while explaining their Artemis mission - 'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_T8cn2J13-4&t=22s').

But like everything else, there is some truth to this that without a base on the Moon, the possibility of facing unpleasant surprises on Mars is even more. Additional to the experiments in 'Mars-like' places on the Earth, it would add more value by making similar experiences in outer space such as on the Moon.

Agree with you that Mars introduces technical challenges (like the atmospheric ones you mentioned) that are not specific to the Moon.

IMO, also the spacecraft aiming to travel to Mars (such as 'Starship') should prove their reliability to the distances that have already been traveled (like ISS, Moon) before sending them to unknown territories.

cryptography··on Show HN: I made a site where you can travel in space in your browser
That's beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
cryptography··on Show HN: I made a site where you can travel in space in your browser
Thanks for the links!
cryptography··on Show HN: I made a site where you can travel in space in your browser
A lifesaver!
cryptography··on Show HN: I made a site where you can travel in space in your browser
Good humor!;) Hmmm...How about you check this open-source racing game which is also R3F project (not by me): https://github.com/pmndrs/racing-game

Let me know if your screen is black for this game as well.

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