Show HN Submissions More Than Doubled in the Past Year, Now Represent 15% of All HN Stories

The 'Show HN' section of Hacker News has long been a corner of the platform where builders share what they've created, from small tools to full applications. After noticing an apparent uptick in these posts while working with LLMs and agent workflows, I decided to check the data to see if it was just confirmation bias. The numbers from the Hacker News Algolia API tell a clear story: the volume of Show HN submissions has more than doubled in the last year, and they now make up a much larger slice of the total activity on the site.

The Raw Numbers

Looking at January data, the contrast is stark. In January 2025, there were 1,727 Show HN posts. In January 2026 (using 26 days of data), that number jumped to 3,886—a 125% increase. More significantly, the percentage of Show HN posts relative to all submissions rose from 6.93% to 15.31%, a 121% increase in share. This isn't just a minor fluctuation; it represents a fundamental shift in what the Hacker News community is submitting and discussing.

What's Driving the Increase?

Several factors likely contribute to this trend. The accessibility of AI tools and frameworks has lowered the barrier to building functional prototypes. Developers can now spin up a working demo with an LLM-powered interface or a simple agent workflow in a weekend, making it easier to have something tangible to share. The rise of "vibe coding" and no-code/low-code platforms also plays a role—more people can build without deep technical expertise, and they're eager to showcase their creations.

There's also a cultural component. The tech community has increasingly embraced the "build in public" ethos. Sharing early-stage projects, even if they're rough, is no longer seen as premature; it's a way to get feedback, find collaborators, and build an audience. Platforms like GitHub, Vercel, and Replit have made it trivial to deploy and share a project, reducing the friction between building and showing.

What This Means for the Ecosystem

A 15% share of HN submissions is substantial. It means that for every 10 posts on the front page, roughly 1.5 are Show HN entries. This changes the dynamic of the site. More projects are being exposed to a critical, technically savvy audience, which can be both a blessing and a curse. The feedback can be invaluable, but the competition for attention is fierce.

For builders, this surge presents an opportunity. The platform is more receptive than ever to new ideas, but standing out requires more than just a working prototype. The most successful Show HN posts often tell a story—why this project exists, what problem it solves, and how it was built. They also tend to include a live demo, clear documentation, and a link to the source code.

For the broader ecosystem, this trend signals a healthy cycle of innovation and sharing. When more people are building and showing their work, it accelerates learning and inspiration. It also creates a feedback loop where successful projects inspire others to build similar or complementary tools.

A Skeptical Observer's Take

While the numbers are impressive, it's worth maintaining a degree of skepticism. Not all Show HN posts are created equal. The quality varies widely, and the flood of submissions means that many projects will get little to no attention. The "crazy rate" of building and sharing is exciting, but it also raises questions about sustainability. How many of these projects are one-off experiments versus ongoing efforts? How many will evolve into something more substantial?

The data doesn't answer these questions, but it does highlight a shift in behavior. The act of sharing itself is becoming more common, and that's a net positive for the community. Whether these projects lead to new companies, open-source tools, or simply learning experiences, they contribute to the collective knowledge base.

Looking Ahead

If this trend continues, we might see Show HN becoming an even more integral part of the Hacker News ecosystem. It could lead to more specialized discussions, more collaboration opportunities, and perhaps even new platforms or tools designed specifically for showcasing and discovering projects.

For now, the data speaks for itself: builders are building, and they're not afraid to show it. The numbers suggest that the culture of public creation is thriving, and that's something worth paying attention to.

Data sourced from the Hacker News Algolia API. Analysis performed by Pete Goldsmith.