Show HN Daily Selection (2025-07-11)
- Open source alternative to Perplexity Comet
- Cactus – Ollama for Smartphones
- Typeform was too expensive so I built my own forms
- asyncmcp – Run MCP over async transport via AWS SNS+SQS
- Pangolin – Open source alternative to Cloudflare Tunnels
- I built a playground to showcase what Flux Kontext is good at
- Endorphin AI–Run browser E2E tests from plain English with QA AI agent
- Ten years of running every day, visualized
- I rebuilt few years old project and now it covers my expenses
- I Built an AI Agent Ecosystem That Optimises Your Google Ads for You
- I built an app to turn my kids' questions into podcasts
- I made a tool to make LinkedIn posting feel less like a chore
- Still coding in VC++ 6.0 after losing everything, living in a trailer
- NotebookLM Web Importer
Open source alternative to Perplexity Comet [Consumer Tech]
116 points, 31 comments
Open-source, privacy-first browser with local AI agent support, built on Chromium.
- No invite system; available for immediate download
- Runs locally in the browser (not on servers)
- Supports local LLMs via Ollama and BYOK (bring your own keys)
- Patched Chromium C++ source for security, with auto-updater
- Data stays on user's machine (no ads/search incentives)
- Built by 2-person team, inspired by Firefox's origins
Discussion Link, Original Link
Cactus – Ollama for Smartphones [Consumer Tech]
92 points, 38 comments
Cactus is a cross-platform framework for deploying LLMs, VLMs, and other AI models locally on smartphones, enabling privacy-focused, real-time AI apps.
- Supports Flutter, React-Native, and Kotlin Multi-platform for cross-platform development
- Compatible with any GGUF model from Huggingface (e.g., Qwen, Llama, Mistral)
- Works with models from FP32 to 2-bit quantization for efficiency
- Includes MCP tool-calls for practical functionality (reminders, gallery search, etc.)
- Falls back to cloud models for complex tasks when needed
- Fully open-source
Typeform was too expensive so I built my own forms [Productivity]
164 points, 83 comments
A solopreneur built an open-source, AI-powered form builder as a cost-effective alternative to Typeform, which increased form submissions and inquiry calls.
- AI-generated forms using Vercel AISDK
- AI-driven analytics to interact with form data
- Open-source and customizable
- Designed for professional appearance and usability
- Public development updates shared on X (@preetsuthar17)
Discussion Link, Original Link
asyncmcp – Run MCP over async transport via AWS SNS+SQS [Developer Tools]
22 points, 2 comments
Run MCP over async transport using AWS SNS+SQS.
- Enables MCP protocol over asynchronous transport
- Utilizes AWS SNS and SQS for message handling
- Designed for scalable and distributed systems
Discussion Link, Original Link
Pangolin – Open source alternative to Cloudflare Tunnels [Developer Tools]
5 points, 1 comments
Pangolin is an open-source self-hosted reverse proxy management server with identity and access control, designed to securely expose private resources via encrypted WireGuard tunnels.
- Open-source alternative to Cloudflare Tunnels
- Self-hosted with full infrastructure control
- Encrypted WireGuard tunnels in user space
- Clean dashboard web UI for proxy management
- OAuth2/OIDC identity providers and role-based access control
- Supports TCP, UDP, and resource-specific authentication
- Self-destructing shareable links and API for automation
- WAF with CrowdSec and geoblocking
- Quick deployment (~5 minutes on a VPS)
- Use cases include CGNAT bypass, multi-cloud load balancing, and IoT monitoring
Discussion Link, Original Link
I built a playground to showcase what Flux Kontext is good at [Image]
44 points, 13 comments
FluxKontextLab is an interactive playground showcasing advanced capabilities of Flux Kontext, including targeted text removal, photo restoration, and style transfers.
- Features before-and-after comparisons of curated examples
- Includes an interactive playground for testing custom prompts
- Highlights advanced use cases beyond basic functionality
- Early-stage project encouraging user feedback and experimentation
Discussion Link, Original Link
Endorphin AI–Run browser E2E tests from plain English with QA AI agent [Developer Tools]
11 points, 17 comments
Run browser end-to-end tests using plain English commands with an AI-powered QA agent.
- Converts plain English instructions into automated browser tests
- AI agent assists in QA testing without coding
- Simplifies end-to-end testing workflow
- Browser-based testing solution
Discussion Link, Original Link
Ten years of running every day, visualized [Health]
15 points, 5 comments
A decade-long running streak visualized through an interactive dashboard built with NextJS, Postgres, and Redis.
- Tracks 10 years (3653 days) of daily runs (≥1 mile) under USRSA rules
- Interactive dashboard transforms GPX files into explorable charts
- Uses NextJS, Postgres, and Redis for data storage and caching
- Custom SVG-based visualizations for better control
- Integrates Strava, OpenWeatherMap, and OpenCageData APIs for data enrichment
Discussion Link, Original Link
I rebuilt few years old project and now it covers my expenses [Design]
5 points, 1 comments
HextaUI is a collection of modern, accessible UI components and pre-built website blocks built with Tailwind CSS, now generating revenue through sales.
- Rebuilt from an older CSS-based project to use Tailwind CSS for better design and modularity
- Includes animated components and pre-built blocks for faster development
- Gained rapid traction with 50k visitors in 72 hours and $500 revenue in 24 hours
- Focuses on quality and niche-specific improvements despite competition
- Open-source origins with a shift to monetization via premium components
Discussion Link, Original Link
I Built an AI Agent Ecosystem That Optimises Your Google Ads for You [Marketing]
3 points, 2 comments
AI agent ecosystem for optimizing Google Ads campaigns.
- Automates Google Search campaign optimization
- Builds custom dynamic landing pages
- Conducts 24/7 keyword research
- Self-serve platform now available
Discussion Link, Original Link
I built an app to turn my kids' questions into podcasts [Education]
12 points, 8 comments
WonderPods is an app that creates personalized podcast episodes answering kids' specific questions in an engaging, screen-free way.
- Generates custom podcast episodes based on children's unique questions
- Includes the child's name in the story for a personalized experience
- Designed for screen-free learning during bedtime or car rides
- Offers shareable episodes for non-users to enjoy
- Provides a free trial for new users
Discussion Link, Original Link
I made a tool to make LinkedIn posting feel less like a chore [Business]
3 points, 2 comments
A tool to simplify LinkedIn posting using AI-generated content.
- Uses Claude AI to generate posts and hooks
- Saves time by automating content creation
- Currently in early access for user feedback
Discussion Link, Original Link
Still coding in VC++ 6.0 after losing everything, living in a trailer [Inspiration]
14 points, 9 comments
A developer shares their journey of resilience, continuing to code in VC++ 6.0 after personal and professional setbacks.
- Personal story of perseverance after industry collapse and personal loss
- Still coding in outdated VC++ 6.0 despite challenges
- Short video documenting life in a trailer in rural Canada
- No product pitch, just sharing a human experience
NotebookLM Web Importer [Productivity]
3 points, 0 comments
NotebookLM Web Importer allows users to import web content into NotebookLM.
- Enables web content import
- Integrates with NotebookLM for enhanced functionality