I have an open source CLI tool for provisioning preview environments. I want to get it in front of relevant developers. What are the most effective methods for doing this?
Thank you!
Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
1–10 of 22 posts
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#2[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#3Share it here. Seriously, prepare a Show HN post and give enough info on what it is and why people might want to use it.
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#4There are "awesome" lists on github, get in touch with maintainers
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#5[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#6Make a website showing several realistic scenarios of it doing helpful things, and document it well.
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#7I wish freshmeat was still a thing! Is there a replacement?
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#8Share it on relevant subreddits and make a gif out how to use it with https://github.com/charmbracelet/vhs
Projects with gifs on reddit get more attention.
Example: https://www.reddit.com/r/unixporn/comments/z0zm8x/oc_nap_a_c...
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#9Share it on relevant subreddits and make a gif out how to use it with https://github.com/charmbracelet/vhs Projects with gifs on reddit get more attention. Example: https://www.reddit.com/r/unixporn/comments/z0zm8x/oc_nap_a_c...
I agree with this one. I have a niche open source project (ntfy) that is somewhat popular in its space, and my promotion so far has been almost exclusively in the r/selfhosted subreddit. It is very very tricky to find a subreddit that will even accept self-promotion, though, and you will always walk the line.
My strategy has always been to be humble, be kind, respect the subreddit rules, and only promote if you have something actually valuable to share (new features, relevant things). And then only one per month or so.
And, as OC said, posts with screenshots or GIFs do so much better.
Re: Ask HN: What's the best (non-spammy) way to promote an open source tool?
#10I wish freshmeat was still a thing! Is there a replacement?
+1 for this.
Still fondly remember using the venerable freshmeat website to window shopping online for open source software.