--- title: Best Hacker News posts — August 2024 | daily.dev description: The most upvoted Hacker News posts from August 2024, curated by the daily.dev community. canonical: https://daily.dev/sources/hn/best-of/2024/08 twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:site: @dailydotdev og:url: https://daily.dev/sources/hn/best-of/2024/08 og:type: website og:site_name: daily.dev og:title: Best Hacker News posts — August 2024 | daily.dev og:description: The most upvoted Hacker News posts from August 2024, curated by the daily.dev community. og:image: https://media.daily.dev/image/upload/s--VAY5ToZt--/f_auto/v1724209435/public/daily.dev%20-%20open%20graph --- # Best of Hacker News — August 2024 1. 1 [](https://daily.dev/posts/server-setup-basics-xtksglds1 "Server Setup Basics") Article Hacker News·2y Server Setup Basics Setting up a robust server includes steps like configuring secure SSH login, creating non-root users, setting up NGINX, managing logs, and securing network ports with UFW and Fail2Ban. Additionally, best practices for backups and choosing the right tools for server management are emphasized. The use of tools like Btop, Neoss, GoAccess, MC, and NCDU is recommended for improving server management efficiency. 4K 126 2. 2 [](https://daily.dev/posts/how-to-build-anything-extremely-quickly-ombd0fcal "How to Build Anything Extremely Quickly") Article Hacker News·2y How to Build Anything Extremely Quickly Outline speedrunning involves creating a detailed outline of a project, breaking it down into smaller tasks recursively, completing them quickly without perfecting, and then refining the project once it's done. This method, compared to the traditional 'loading-bar' style, can significantly speed up tasks like writing and programming by increasing momentum and reducing stress. The key is to not perfect any part of the project until it is fully completed. 2.9K 121 3. 3 [](https://daily.dev/posts/you-are-not-dumb-you-just-lack-the-prerequisites-l63uu7tjw "You Are NOT Dumb, You Just Lack the Prerequisites") Article Hacker News·2y You Are NOT Dumb, You Just Lack the Prerequisites Struggling to learn complex subjects like math often stems from missing prerequisite knowledge, not a lack of capability. Revisiting and mastering foundational concepts can help build the necessary groundwork for understanding more advanced material. It's important to take a step back and re-learn the basics using effective methods and consistent practice. 2K 111 4. 4 [](https://daily.dev/posts/zen-browser-dgxggyz1u "Zen Browser") Article Hacker News·2y Zen Browser Zen Browser aims to transform your web experience with features like split views, workspaces, and profile switching. It offers a customizable theme store, advanced security technologies, and a compact mode for smaller screens. Zen prioritizes both speed and privacy, presenting itself as a superior alternative to other Firefox-based browsers. 1.3K 149 5. 5 [](https://daily.dev/posts/free-public-apis-ykoqdaruo "Free Public APIs") Article Hacker News·2y Free Public APIs A collection of free public APIs with high health scores that offer a variety of functionalities including IP geolocation, data on Rick and Morty characters, UK postcode lookup, Kanye West quotes, Harry Potter characters and spells, useless facts, weather data, holidays information, and more. These APIs support REST and sometimes GraphQL endpoints, providing reliable and valuable data for developers. 1.2K 23 6. 6 [](https://daily.dev/posts/css-finally-adds-vertical-centering-in-2024-vhrwd3fxd "CSS finally adds vertical centering in 2024") Article Hacker News·2y CSS finally adds vertical centering in 2024 In 2024, CSS introduces the \`align-content\` property for vertical centering in flow layout, eliminating the need for flexbox or grid. Previously, achieving vertical alignment required complex workarounds. This update simplifies the process, allowing vertical alignment with a single CSS property in the default layout. 576 37 7. 7 [](https://daily.dev/posts/how-this-shell-command-works--fsqwzy7bk "How this shell command works?") Article Hacker News·2y How this shell command works? Fig is a tool that enhances the functionality of shell commands by providing suggested commands while you type. This can streamline your command-line experience and increase productivity. Learn how it works and how to make the most of it. 447 27 8. 8 [](https://daily.dev/posts/chartdb-chartdb-free-and-open-source-database-diagrams-editor-visualize-and-design-your-db-with-a--kkmpsuqq3 "chartdb/chartdb: Free and Open-source database diagrams editor, visualize and design your DB with a single query.") Article Hacker News·2y chartdb/chartdb: Free and Open-source database diagrams editor, visualize and design your DB with a single query. ChartDB is a web-based, open-source database diagramming editor that allows you to instantly visualize and customize your database schema using a single query. It features AI-powered export for easy database migrations, supports interactive schema editing, and requires no installations or database passwords. Currently in public beta, it supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MariaDB, and SQLite. 378 20 9. 9 [](https://daily.dev/posts/the-secret-inside-one-million-checkboxes-ni7mrcxdx "The secret inside One Million Checkboxes") Article Hacker News·2y The secret inside One Million Checkboxes One Million Checkboxes (OMCB) was a web project launched on June 26th, 2024, which allowed 500,000 users to check over 650 million boxes collectively. Each change was global and instantaneous. The author initially thought the database had been hacked due to strange data, but it was revealed users were sending hidden binary messages. A community of sharp young developers formed around the project, creating elaborate drawings and complex animations using checkboxes. Despite concerns about botting degrading user experience, the author found the creative interaction deeply moving and reminiscent of his own early programming experiences. 365 32 10. 10 [](https://daily.dev/posts/chartdb-jdsi3ker8 "ChartDB") Article Hacker News·2y ChartDB ChartDB is a free and open-source database design editor that simplifies the creation of database diagrams. It allows users to import, edit, and export database schemas using a single query, supporting popular relational DBMS like MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and SQL Lite. Features include a visual query editor, the ability to add tables and notes, and exporting diagrams as SQL scripts or images. 335 12 11. 11 [](https://daily.dev/posts/okay-i-really-like-wezterm-fvyslvdur "Okay, I really like WezTerm") Article Hacker News·2y Okay, I really like WezTerm A user's journey from using iTerm 2 to transitioning to WezTerm, emphasizing WezTerm's powerful Lua-based configuration. It provides a guide on setting up WezTerm, configuring its appearance, keybindings, and leveraging its dynamic theming capabilities. The post also introduces WezTerm's multiplexing features, project workspaces, and provides tips on optimizing workflow and customizing the terminal to suit individual preferences. 325 13 12. 12 [](https://daily.dev/posts/i-ve-built-my-first-successful-side-project-and-i-hate-it-jbznxvskq "I've Built My First Successful Side Project, and I Hate It") Article Hacker News·2y I've Built My First Successful Side Project, and I Hate It The post describes the author's journey of creating a successful side project that automatises drawing harmonic patterns on TradingView. Despite the success and financial gains, the author faced numerous challenges including maintenance fatigue, demanding customers, and handling disputes and frauds. Ultimately, the author automated various aspects of the project to reduce workload and avoid burnout, but lost interest in maintaining the project. Key lessons include the importance of setting boundaries, customer relations, and the complexities of selling B2C products. 324 26 13. 13 [](https://daily.dev/posts/useplunk-plunk-the-open-source-email-platform-qa3vtaf9q "useplunk/plunk: The Open-Source Email Platform") Article Hacker News·2y useplunk/plunk: The Open-Source Email Platform Plunk is an open-source email platform built on AWS SES for sending emails from applications. It supports transactional emails, automations, and broadcasts. The platform can be self-hosted using the driaug/plunk Docker image, and detailed deployment instructions are available in the documentation. Contributions are encouraged, with guidelines provided in CONTRIBUTING.md. 282 15 14. 14 [](https://daily.dev/posts/instantdb-instant-the-realtime-client-side-database-vxn8vqyn0 "instantdb/instant: The realtime client-side database") Article Hacker News·2y instantdb/instant: The realtime client-side database Instant is a client-side database designed to simplify the creation of real-time and collaborative applications. It allows you to write relational queries, handles data fetching, permission checking, offline caching, optimistic updates, and rollbacks. It features multiplayer queries by default and supports ephemeral updates. SDKs are available for Javascript, React, and React Native. Instant uses a Postgres backend with a sync server written in Clojure and offers a free tier for quick startups. 277 9 15. 15 [](https://daily.dev/posts/leaving-neovim-for-zed-lzsvfasmw "Leaving Neovim for Zed") Article Hacker News·2y Leaving Neovim for Zed The post details the author's transition from Neovim to Zed as their preferred text editor. It covers the speed, ease of use, built-in features, and overall productivity improvements that Zed offers compared to Neovim. Key highlights include Zed's seamless setup, its efficient handling of large codebases, and the well-integrated Vim mode. The author also shares specific configurations and keybindings that help make Zed a good fit for users familiar with Neovim. 256 29 16. 16 [](https://daily.dev/posts/linux-we-need-tiling-desktop-environments-a8cpdrsb6 "Linux: We need Tiling Desktop Environments") Article Hacker News·2y Linux: We need Tiling Desktop Environments The Linux ecosystem offers numerous distributions but lacks desktop environments that support tiling window management. Tiling window managers like i3 and Sway provide efficient, keyboard-centric operation but often compromise on features. Hybrid desktop environments such as Regolith and Pop!\_OS's COSMIC blend the full-featured nature of traditional desktop environments with the productivity benefits of tiling window managers. Incorporating tiling management into existing environments like GNOME or XFCE could provide users with the best of both worlds, enhancing productivity, customization, and efficient use of screen space. 226 17 17. 17 [](https://daily.dev/posts/pragtical-eykqtoid8 "Pragtical") Article Hacker News·2y Pragtical Pragtical is a lightweight, powerful, and hyperextensible code editor that consumes minimal resources. It boasts features such as syntax highlighting, multiple cursors, and a command palette, with additional capabilities available via plugins. The editor can be easily extended using Lua and its C API and is compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS. Pragtical is free, open-source, and does not collect user data. 223 17 18. 18 [](https://daily.dev/posts/flxzt-rnote-sketch-and-take-handwritten-notes--ose2ifroz "flxzt/rnote: Sketch and take handwritten notes.") Article Hacker News·2y flxzt/rnote: Sketch and take handwritten notes. Rnote is an open-source, vector-based drawing app designed for sketching, handwritten notes, and document annotation. It features an adaptive UI for stylus input, pressure-sensitive stroke styles, shape creation, content manipulation tools, document import/export in various formats, and customizable backgrounds. Written in Rust and GTK4, it supports multiple platforms with relevant installation instructions and troubleshooting tips. The app is under active development with an unstable file format, prompting occasional downgrades for compatibility. 211 5 19. 19 [](https://daily.dev/posts/onlook-dev-onlook-the-open-source-local-first-webflow-alternative-design-directly-in-your-live-re-h6d0pa3ts "onlook-dev/onlook: The open source, local-first Webflow alternative. Design directly in your live React site and publish your changes to code.") Article Hacker News·2y onlook-dev/onlook: The open source, local-first Webflow alternative. Design directly in your live React site and publish your changes to code. Onlook is an open-source, browser-powered visual editor that integrates seamlessly with React and TailwindCSS projects. It allows live edits directly in the browser DOM and control over the codebase without compromising the design. The post includes step-by-step instructions for setting up and running Onlook, as well as demo projects and optional manual setup methods. The project is actively developed with regular updates and contributions from the community are encouraged. 202 1 20. 20 [](https://daily.dev/posts/tauri-2-0-release-candidate-lbnzj0ejs "Tauri 2.0 Release Candidate") Article Hacker News·2y Tauri 2.0 Release Candidate Tauri 2.0 has reached its release candidate phase after extensive beta and alpha testing. The focus now is on documentation and fixing critical bugs before the stable release planned for the end of August. Significant changes include the restructuring of core plugins and improvements in mobile development capabilities. An external security audit has also been completed, with all findings addressed. The Tauri team encourages community involvement and contributions to help improve the project further. 194 9 21. 21 [](https://daily.dev/posts/stack-auth-stack-open-source-clerk-auth0-alternative-whnq8mewx "stack-auth/stack: Open-source Clerk/Auth0 alternative") Article Hacker News·2y stack-auth/stack: Open-source Clerk/Auth0 alternative Stack Auth is an open-source, developer-friendly user authentication solution that supports Next.js frontends and backend integrations via REST API. It offers a quick setup and the flexibility to export and self-host user data at any time. The post provides comprehensive setup instructions including dependency installation through Docker, local development execution, and Prisma database initialization. Contributors are encouraged to join their Discord and follow contribution guidelines. 190 2 22. 22 [](https://daily.dev/posts/permify-permify-an-open-source-authorization-as-a-service-inspired-by-google-zanzibar-designed-to--wjstrkasl "Permify/permify: An open-source authorization as a service inspired by Google Zanzibar, designed to build and manage fine-grained and scalable authorization systems for any application.") Article Hacker News·2y Permify/permify: An open-source authorization as a service inspired by Google Zanzibar, designed to build and manage fine-grained and scalable authorization systems for any application. Permify is an open-source authorization service inspired by Google Zanzibar, designed to implement fine-grained, scalable access controls quickly. It centralizes authorization logic, supports granular permissions, and offers fast response times for access checks. Start using it locally with a simple Docker command and contribute to its codebase, documentation, or playground for improvements. 168 2 23. 23 [](https://daily.dev/posts/courses-prompt-engineering-interactive-tutorial-at-master-anthropics-courses-grinstadb "courses/prompt_engineering_interactive_tutorial at master · anthropics/courses") Article Hacker News·2y courses/prompt\_engineering\_interactive\_tutorial at master · anthropics/courses This course provides a comprehensive guide to mastering prompt engineering within Claude. It covers the basic structure of good prompts, common failure modes, strengths and weaknesses of Claude, and how to build strong prompts for various use cases. Structured into 9 chapters with exercises and an advanced appendix, it includes practical, hands-on elements with an 'Example Playground' area for experimentation. The tutorial leverages Claude 3 Haiku but references other models like Claude 3 Sonnet and Claude 3 Opus for comparison. 149 4 24. 24 [](https://daily.dev/posts/zero-regrets-firefox-power-user-kept-7-500-tabs-open-for-two-years-kcuohcbb1 "Zero regrets: Firefox power user kept 7,500 tabs open for two years") Article Hacker News·2y Zero regrets: Firefox power user kept 7,500 tabs open for two years A software engineer, Hazel, managed to keep 7,470 Firefox tabs open simultaneously, demonstrating Firefox's memory efficiency. Despite some initial trouble in restoring the tabs, Firefox's profile cache functionality allowed her to recover them. Mozilla confirmed that having numerous tabs open consumes minimal memory. Upcoming features and third-party add-ons aim to improve tab management further. 149 24 25. 25 [](https://daily.dev/posts/snowflakeos-ymtoppbfx "SnowflakeOS") Article Hacker News·2y SnowflakeOS SnowflakeOS is a NixOS-based Linux distribution designed to be beginner-friendly and easy to use. 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