I was just wondering about why there's a constant timeline and no recommendation.
Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
1–10 of 25 posts
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#2From the FAQ:
How are stories ranked?
The basic algorithm divides points by a power of the time since a story was submitted. Comments in threads are ranked the same way.
Other factors affecting rank include user flags, anti-abuse software, software which demotes overheated discussions, account or site weighting, and moderator action.
—-
Personally, I appreciate that the rankings are done at a site level, and there isn’t a bunch of tracking and manipulation to give me a personal “feed” to drive engagement. A lot of comments on this site complain about those practices on other sites. I don’t think it’s welcome here.
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#3Because it doesn't serve ads so the point is the content not the engagement.
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#4It’s much better the way it is - one of the last remaining high quality feeds on the Internet!
(PS please feel free to disagree and post other ones I don’t know about below!)
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#5The idea is to discover new things you didn’t know you wanted to know - not consume more of the same
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#6How do you organize technical articles you read?
I read a lot of backend and architecture articles and often struggle to revisit them later.
I’m curious how others handle this.
Do you: Use Notion or Obsidian? Bookmark everything? Keep markdown notes? Rely on memory?
What has worked long-term for you?
What hasn’t?
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#7How do you organize technical articles you read? I read a lot of backend and architecture articles and often struggle to revisit them later. I’m curious how others handle this. Do you: Use Notion or Obsidian? Bookmark everything? Keep markdown notes? Rely on memory? What has worked long-term for you? What hasn’t?
A directory hierarchy works well for me. I've described my setup online before:
https://academia.stackexchange.com/a/173314/31143
https://www.reddit.com/r/datacurator/comments/p75xlu/how_i_o...
I don't read everything I have from start to finish. A lot of this is for future reference.
Since that StackExchange post, I'm now up to about 36.6K PDF files in 4.4K directories, with 14.5K symlinks so I can put files in multiple directories.
I also have a separate version controlled repo with notes a bunch of subjects. I'm planning to eventually merge my PDF hierarchy and the notes to have a unified system. It's going to have to be done in stages.
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#8It’s much better the way it is - one of the last remaining high quality feeds on the Internet! (PS please feel free to disagree and post other ones I don’t know about below!)
I agree too.
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#9It's not meant to be addictive, even though it kinda is.
Re: Ask HN: Why doesn't HN have a rec algorithm?
#10Shared ranking beats personalized engagement loops.