nowfound

Life & fun · May 22, 2023

IM

I made an iOS HN app to navigate large threads without getting lost

I was struggling with navigating HN discussions using existing solutions, so I decided to implement a completely different approach, think of it as depth-first reading vs breadth-first reading. Visually it looks like swipeable stacks of comments and it offers several advantages over traditional interfaces: - Comment width doesn't get narrower no matter how deep in the comment tree you are - You always see the parent of the comment you're currently reading - Swiping allows you to move in and out of subtrees with animated transitions that you fully control - You can easily skip subtrees that…

In plain words

This iOS app helps users navigate Hacker News discussion threads using a swipeable stack interface instead of traditional nested comments. Rather than reading breadth-first, it enables depth-first exploration where comment width remains constant at any nesting level and parent comments stay visible. Users can swipe to move through subtrees with animated transitions and scroll to skip uninteresting branches. The app includes custom boards, search, in-thread search, anchors, and a reading list, designed to maintain context and reduce disorientation in long discussions.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

In the maker’s words, at launch

I was struggling with navigating HN discussions using existing solutions, so I decided to implement a completely different approach, think of it as depth-first reading vs breadth-first reading. Visually it looks like swipeable stacks of comments and it offers several advantages over traditional interfaces: - Comment width doesn't get narrower no matter how deep in the comment tree you are - You always see the parent of the comment you're currently reading - Swiping allows you to move in and out of subtrees with animated transitions that you fully control - You can easily skip subtrees that don't interest you by scrolling As a result it's easier to maintain the context and to keep track of where you are in the discussion tree. The app is fully featured, it does all the things that you would expect it to do, and there's extra: custom boards, search, in-thread search, anchors, reading list, recent items. Video preview: https://imgur.com/a/tzBdpXw or https://streamable.com/arq45m

More life & fun this month

the category →
  • TL

    Life & fun · 10d ago · louisabraham.github.io

  • Photosynthesis fires two of your iPhone

    Life & fun · 28d ago · photosynthesis.camera

  • SoloUno310

    Take control of hair pulling, nail biting & skin picking

    Life & fun · 28d ago · solouno.io

  • Scroll through all 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 reachable Rubik's Cube permutations.

    Life & fun · 26d ago · everycube.alen.is

  • The Interactive 3D Encyclopedia

    Life & fun · 21d ago · expeditione.fun

  • Hi HN, I built Eigendrum, a web tool that solves the 2D wave equation for arbitrary shapes so you can hear what they sound like as drums. How it works: * Solves -∇²u = λu using finite element analysis (Kφ = λMφ) on a triangle mesh. * Validated to <0.1% error against closed-form solutions for circles (Bessel zeros) and rectangles. * Sound model factors in strike location, Rayleigh damping, and mallet width. * Includes Kac drums I & II to demonstrate identical sound spectra from different geometries. * No frameworks, build steps, or dependencies. Repo and tests:…

    Life & fun · 27d ago · baselashraf81.github.io

Launched alongside, May 2023

the whole month →
  • Sidekick1,343

    An AI-powered accessibility assistant in Stark

    AI · 2023 · getstark.co

  • BR

    In today's world, catchy headlines and articles often distract readers from the facts and relevant information. By utilizing OpenAI's language models, Boring Report processes sensationalist news articles, transforms them into the content you see, and helps readers focus on the essential details. We recently updated our iOS app experience, so any and all feedback would be appreciated. App Link: https:&#x2F;&#x2F;apps.apple.com&#x2F;us&#x2F;app&#x2F;boring-report-news-by-ai&#x2F;id644...

    AI · 2023 · boringreport.org

  • Generating powerful websites, one prompt at a time

    AI · 2023

  • Unlock a new level productivity with AI, Cloud Sync and more

    AI · 2023 · raycast.com

  • AudioPen888

    The easiest way to convert messy thoughts into clear text

    AI · 2023 · audiopen.ai

  • Launch your website in seconds, get users in minutes

    Dev tools · 2023 · page.mmntm.build