Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026) • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#601

Post by andrewjk » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:30 AM UTC

Multi-language libs with implementations in TypeScript/C#/Swift/Zig so that they can be used directly in web or native apps:

- A Markdown parser/renderer (https://github.com/andrewjk/allmark). The TS version of this was hand written and the other versions are AI translations.

- A Git client (https://github.com/andrewjk/gitologist) and a diffs parser/renderer (https://github.com/andrewjk/differator). These were vibe coded in TS, checked and then AI translated.

I’ve used these libraries to build a native Mac Markdown notes app (https://staunchapps.com/stash) and a JS script launcher (https://staunchapps.com/launch).

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#602

Post by anitil » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:35 AM UTC

I've been working on the Jane Street reverse engineering puzzle that was posted here a few days ago[0]. As usual I've not made much progress on the actual challenge because I've fallen down a bunch of rabbit holes.

So far I've built a digital circuit simulator, a parser for my circuit design language, and now a parser for my simulator language (so I can run the sim on known inputs and have the machine enforce asserts for me). All to avoid the painful memories I have of verilog/vhdl.

If I don't come to my senses, the next thing is probably going to be a wave form viewer because I've wanted to use Raylib for a real project for a while now.

[0] edit: forgot link - https://blog.janestreet.com/can-you-reverse-engineer-an-asic...

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#603

Post by hackitup7 » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:36 AM UTC

I was only working on this occasionally, but I built an extension to block sites in a more creative way.

Basically I'm finding myself in a bind where:

- I spend too much time doomscrolling (X, reddit, HN etc) - AI is making me lose touch with a lot of basic skills like coding, and I was already losing touch with doing real math

So I built an extension that blocks sites and forces you to actually solve a problem before you can get to a distracting site. The idea is to 1) block the reflex of visiting a site and getting a dopamine hit, and 2) at least get some mild cognitive benefit from it. I use it myself.

https://sphinx.fyi/

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#604

Post by NegativeLatency » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:37 AM UTC

A iTunes inspired music app (uses an extension of DAAP) for classic Macintosh (Mac II and system 6 and newer currently only m68k, ppc coming soon) https://github.com/nburns/iRunes

And a extended DAAP compatible server than can convert other local music libraries (files/dlna/etc) for iRunes https://github.com/nburns/sharon-jones-and-the-daap-king

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#605

Post by nbbaier » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:38 AM UTC

andrewjk wrote: post #601

Multi-language libs with implementations in TypeScript/C#/Swift/Zig so that they can be used directly in web or native apps: - A Markdown parser/renderer ( https://github.com/andrewjk/allmark ). The TS version of this was hand written and the other versions are AI translations. - A Git client ( https://github.com/andrewjk/gitologist ) and a diffs parser/renderer ( https://github.com/andrewjk/differator ). These were…

Are the creator of the `.mdsv` format that's referenced in the stash manual? Never heard of it before. If you are, interested if there's a spec.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#606

Post by ranger_danger » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC

brynnbee wrote: post #488

My two biggest projects are: https://www.idlequest.net/ - a from-scratch recreation of the 1999 MMORPG classic EverQuest, featuring a real-time MMO server written in Go, a 3D game browser-based client built with Babylon.js, and the clasic UI recreated using React. You can play it both as a regular MMORPG but also in "idle mode" where it basically plays itself. This had up to 70 players online at once a while back whi…

> an unofficial Shenmue MMO experience

How is this not going to get sued into oblivion by Sega? Especially using your real name with it.

That being said, I tried it on Firefox and just got an empty blue screen after the level loaded.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#607

Post by atkion » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:48 AM UTC

hopfog wrote: post #31

The final stretch of getting my game ready for release next week: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2764460/Sandustry/ It's an automation game and factory builder with "falling sand" physics. Think Noita meets Factorio.

"Noita meets Factorio" is genuinely not something I ever thought I would see. That's an insane combination and I will definitely be picking this up and trying it out :)

I also remember playing that Powder Toy game on my phone in grade school, and I have a ton of nostalgia for these kinds of physics.

Will there be significant hidden mechanics/riddles/lore built into the world in a Noita-like way, or is the physics engine the limit of that comparison?

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#608

Post by eric_khun » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:50 AM UTC

Antics (https://antics.gg): a site to play silly little multiplayer games with friends, and to make your own by using our MCP

The bet is that current models are good enough that anyone can one-shot a fun browser game. What they can't generate is the multiplayer part (server, WebSockets, state sync, hosting), so that's the only part we've built: a browser SDK plus a hosted relay. Deploy a game, get one link, and everyone who opens it is in the same room.

Quickest way to see it: open any game on https://antics.gg/games in two tabs.

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#609

Post by ryukoposting » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:51 AM UTC

An analog telephone line simulator built (almost) entirely in CMOS and through-hole parts. It will be the second of its kind designed entirely in the 21st century, and the first of its kind designed in the 21st century with any hope of other people reproducing it. Think of it like a rudimentary PBX you can build at home, or like a little telephone company that sits on your desk. Either is accurate.

Realized today why my filter circuits weren't working as they should: I screwed up the placement of one capacitor when I moved the design from simulation to schematic. Next post in the series coming soon.

https://hardfault.life/t/tinytelco

Re: Ask HN: What are you working on? (August 2026)

#610

Post by Nursie » Mon, Aug 10, 2026, 2:58 AM UTC

taylorfinley wrote: post #133

I got laid off at the end of April and have been building my own personal dream tool since, it's a skeuomorphic carpentry simulator with an agent MCP. You start with real wood specs and a shop full of miter saws, router tables, table saws and the like. Think of it like Sketchup but no extruding rectangles. It's been really fun to build with. Agents can create parametric procedures so e.g. stick framing becomes a simp…

That's pretty cool. I built a barn door on rollers (some suspending it, some rolling on a concrete floor) last year and this would have certainly aided in visualising where I was going with it.