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Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

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Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#331

Post by bigwavedave »

3np wrote: post #323
bigwavedave wrote: post #284

Just to be sure we're on the same page here: * You're pitching this search engine specifically "for devs". * You're pitching it on HN, a community which (correct me if I'm wrong, @dang) is largely composed of your target audience. * When given feedback, you're responding very defensively in almost 100% of your comments with something akin to "an extension takes 5s to install and uninstall, just do it, no one cares, w…

Especially (from their intro comment, which I can’t reply to for some reason): > We believe in superior privacy choices without losing convenience. Their replies in this thread contradict that - both privacy and convenience are compromised in favor of sticky user acquisition, with the founder doubling down on how this is somehow not contradictory, just “unfortunate”.

> Especially (from their intro comment, which I can’t reply to for some reason):

>> We believe in superior privacy choices without losing convenience.

> Their replies in this thread contradicts that - both privacy and convenience are compromised in favor of sticky user acquisition, with the founder doubling down on how this is somehow not contradictory, just “unfortunate”.

Absolutely. That, and constant references to how much of an underdog they are fighting as the peoples' champion against a $2tr Goliath with a browser monopoly that forced them to implement this "unfortunate" requirement. eye roll

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#332

Post by bigwavedave »

mwambua wrote: post #311
bigwavedave wrote: post #284

Just to be sure we're on the same page here: * You're pitching this search engine specifically "for devs". * You're pitching it on HN, a community which (correct me if I'm wrong, @dang) is largely composed of your target audience. * When given feedback, you're responding very defensively in almost 100% of your comments with something akin to "an extension takes 5s to install and uninstall, just do it, no one cares, w…

Yeah, it would be nice if it was easier to test... so that people could assess whether or not they like it. Instead, we get this hostile experience where we're forced to make it the default search engine before we know if we want to use it. It's also concerning that they're throwing around "privacy" like a buzzword... but aren't sharing how they plan to monetize the platform in the future. That plus the dark patterns…

The dark patterns, the complete and utter inability to address legitimate feedback appropriately, the excuses, the gaslighting... Yeah, no. I don't need yet another company with these philosophies and this kind of founder in my life.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#333

Post by bigwavedave »

jjulius wrote: post #318
bigwavedave wrote: post #284

Just to be sure we're on the same page here: * You're pitching this search engine specifically "for devs". * You're pitching it on HN, a community which (correct me if I'm wrong, @dang) is largely composed of your target audience. * When given feedback, you're responding very defensively in almost 100% of your comments with something akin to "an extension takes 5s to install and uninstall, just do it, no one cares, w…

He's also gaslighting a crowd of folk that he absolutely had to know will know better[1], and then asks us to trust that his product will respect privacy. If you're starting a relationship of trust off with such a ballsy, blatant lie, then nothing you say can be trusted going forward. [1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29169565

For real. It makes me wonder what the culture is like for the other people working there. Apparently, they're currently hiring; for their sake, I hope one of the open positions is for someone who can do PR.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#334

Post by askonomm »

A lot of hate here, but I for one love it! I'm quite tired of having almost the entire first page of search results be ads, and then having to also scan passed a ton of undesirable SEO-hacked results to get what I want and this is perfect for not having that. Keep up the good work!

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#335

Post by bananabat »

The landing page seems...busy. Is this what results will look like after a search? I'm not being facetious. And I'm certainly not a dev-dev (filthy casual, some might call me) so maybe I'm just not seeing what the advantages are, apart from the much-touted privacy thing.

Also, I moused around and the search bar which I initially thought would give me a chance to try things out, is actually a tricksy button. Even your average, somewhat-privacy-conscious user is gonna be annoyed by that, at the very least.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#336

Post by Arcsech »

What makes it "for devs"? I tried searching some programming queries that I'd typically make during a workday and the results were... fine, I guess, but it was basically just web results? Sometimes there were a few enhanced results, but they weren't very good or useful, like when I searched for `java string split` and got back enhanced results showing me how to split a string in Python and Javascript.

There's a bar of "search apps" along the bottom of the page that doesn't do anything if I click on any of them, so I dunno, maybe it would be better if I made an account and added some apps... or I could keep using DuckDuckGo and just type `!so java string split` when I forget trivial method signatures and want to search StackOverflow instead of figuring out what a "search app" is.

Also, this is really, really pushy about being your default search engine. That's a big step! It's like someone talking about moving in with you on the first date. Maybe convince me first?

I don't get it.

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#337

Post by 3np »

richardsocher wrote: post #173
primitivesuave wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I strongly second this. I immediately gave up on trying it out once I realized I had to download something. Your KPIs should be around how sticky your search features are, it seems like it is currently based on download counts.

Hey. Yea. We struggle with the extension -> navbar search requirement also. We have found that if you're not the default engine that is easily accessible from the Navbar, you will not be able to break the Google monopoly. We also found that many people will just do a quick search for "asd" or "weather" and then leave because those searches aren't really differentiated (and just can't really be). Our extension is 33kB…

searx (self-hosted open source) can be set as defult in Chrome just fine without any extensions.

If you need some hints from them: https://github.com/searx/searx/issues/1666

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#338

Post by jay3ss »

Aeolun wrote: post #258
richardsocher wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it takes 5 seconds to install and uninstall an extension. we will open source it also so people can see how simple and benign it is. It feels like 5s to help move the internet away from a privacy invading monopoly isn't too bad? If you like privacy and agency of your information diet, or saving lots of time while coding, or Reddit results always accessible to browse for most queries, etc. Then the 5s install will be…

I think you are kind of missing the point. Regardless of the reasons, people do not want to install an extension from an unknown provider to test out a search engine (at least on HN), you’ll even get a very hostile response. If you aim to make your search engine a success, regardless of your reasons for that. You’ll have to deal with that problem. Trying to convince people with some idealistic talk does not seem to b…

It did not go well on Reddit either

https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/qqc210/to_us...

Re: Show HN: You.com, private search engine that summarizes the web – built for devs

#339

Post by john_moscow »

bigwavedave wrote: post #284

Just to be sure we're on the same page here: * You're pitching this search engine specifically "for devs". * You're pitching it on HN, a community which (correct me if I'm wrong, @dang) is largely composed of your target audience. * When given feedback, you're responding very defensively in almost 100% of your comments with something akin to "an extension takes 5s to install and uninstall, just do it, no one cares, w…

Well, that's the problem in the world where everyone expects certain things to be free. Nobody wants to pay for a search engine, so the only way to keep paying the dev salaries and server costs is to sell your data. There's no magic here, just economy.
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