Show HN title generator

Write a Show HN title that follows Hacker News conventions: under 80 characters, plain, specific, no hype. Generate six options or check your own. Free.

AI · Free · No sign-up
Two or three plain sentences. Mention anything unusual: open source, self-hosted, a new approach.
Checked in your browser as you type.

How to use it

01

Describe what you built

The name and two or three plain sentences: what it does and who it's for.

02

Get six titles

Each one is under 80 characters, starts with "Show HN: " and comes with a note on its angle.

03

Check your own

Paste any title into the checker and see what breaks the guidelines.

What Hacker News expects from a Show HN title

Hacker News titles are capped at 80 characters, and the site's guidelines ask for plain titles: no uppercase or exclamation marks for emphasis, and no gratuitous adjectives. Moderators often edit titles that read like ads. Titles that do well tend to follow one shape:

  • Show HN: Name – what it does, for example a tool name followed by the job it does in a few words.
  • A specific detail that sets it apart: open source, self-hosted, in the browser, written in Rust, one binary.
  • No claims readers can't check from the title alone: “fastest”, “best”, “first”.

Is your project a Show HN?

Show HN is for something you made that people can try. Blog posts, sign-up pages, newsletters and lists don't qualify. Make it easy to try without barriers such as a sign-up. Post a first comment that explains the backstory, how it works and what you'd like feedback on, then stay around to answer questions.

After the launch

A Show HN brings a burst of readers who will check your changelog and releases. Keep shipping notes current with the release notes generator, and make sure your link unfurls well with the Open Graph checker.

DevRelay does this for every release. After launch day, DevRelay keeps the momentum: every release becomes a drafted post, changelog entry and docs update, waiting for your approval. Start free.
FAQ

Questions about this tool.

01How long can a Hacker News title be?

80 characters, including "Show HN: ". Longer titles are cut.

02Should I use an en dash or a colon?

Either works. "Name – what it does" with an en dash is the most common pattern and avoids a second colon after "Show HN:".

03Does the checker send my title anywhere?

No. The title checker runs in your browser. Only the generator sends your description to the model, and it isn't stored.

04Will this get me to the front page?

No tool can promise that. A clear title helps the right readers click; what they find after the click decides the rest.

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Or let every release announce itself.

After launch day, DevRelay keeps the momentum: every release becomes a drafted post, changelog entry and docs update, waiting for your approval.

Start free More free tools

No credit card · Nothing posts without your approval