Show HN Daily Selection (2025-08-26)

• Base, an SQLite database editor for macOS
• Timep – A next-gen profiler and flamegraph-generator for bash code
• Stagewise – frontend coding agent for real codebases
• RAG-Guard: Zero-Trust Document AI
• Async – Claude Code and Linear and GitHub PRs in One Opinionated Tool
• Bitcoin Challenge. Try to steal a plain text private key you can use
• I built an image-based logical Sudoku Solver
• InferMesh – Open-source, GPU-aware inference mesh for large AI serving
• RefForge – A WIP modern, lightweight reading list/reference manager
• Citation Needed
• Verbiage, a Gemini-powered word game

Base, an SQLite database editor for macOS [Developer Tools]

472 points, 132 comments

Base is a lightweight native macOS SQLite editor with a focus on simplicity and usability.

• Handles full table alterations, simplifying complex SQLite operations
• Displays column constraints with icons and detailed info on click
• Supports attaching databases despite macOS sandboxing limitations

Discussion Link, Original Link

Timep – A next-gen profiler and flamegraph-generator for bash code [Developer Tools]

11 points, 2 comments

Timep is a high-efficiency, debug-trap-based bash profiler that records command execution times and generates native flamegraphs.

• Tracks per-command wall-clock and CPU time to identify CPU/IO-bound operations
• Automatically generates bash-native flamegraphs with runtime-based coloring
• Requires zero code changes—simply prepend timep to commands
• Supports multiple architectures with embedded, self-contained binaries
• Highly accurate with minimal overhead (~10% increase in execution time)
• Features advanced post-processing for robust and fast flamegraph generation

Discussion Link, Original Link

Stagewise – frontend coding agent for real codebases [Developer Tools]

28 points, 12 comments

Stagewise is a frontend coding agent that integrates with local dev environments to modify codebases via prompts and UI interactions.

• Works with any framework and component library
• Allows direct HTML element selection and prompt-based code changes
• Features chat history, undo functionality, and reduced pricing
• Can be launched via npx stagewise in the project root
• Targets both technical and non-technical users for rapid prototyping

Discussion Link, Original Link

RAG-Guard: Zero-Trust Document AI [Productivity]

4 points, 0 comments

RAG-Guard is a privacy-focused document AI that processes and answers questions about your documents entirely in your browser, ensuring data never leaves your device without explicit approval.

• Zero-Trust by Design: All processing happens locally unless manually approved.
• Local Document Processing: Files are parsed and stored securely in your browser.
• Client-Side Embeddings: Uses Transformers.js to generate embeddings locally.
• Secure Storage: Documents and embeddings are encrypted in IndexedDB.
• Manual Approval: Users review and approve text before AI model access.
• No Tracking: No analytics, training on data, or cloud uploads by default.

Discussion Link, Original Link

Async – Claude Code and Linear and GitHub PRs in One Opinionated Tool [Developer Tools]

12 points, 7 comments

Async is an open-source developer tool that integrates AI coding, task management, and code review into a single workflow.

• Automatically researches coding tasks, asks clarifying questions, and executes changes in the cloud
• Breaks work into reviewable subtasks with stack diffs for easier code review
• Handles the full workflow from issue to merged PR without leaving the app
• Forces upfront planning and requires confirmation before executing
• Simple task tracking with automatic GitHub issue imports
• Built-in code review with stacked diffs for seamless iteration
• Works on desktop and mobile
• Designed for experienced developers working on mature codebases

Discussion Link, Original Link

Bitcoin Challenge. Try to steal a plain text private key you can use [Finance]

9 points, 8 comments

A browser security demo challenges users to steal a Bitcoin private key that is interactable but invisible.

• Real Bitcoin private key ($20 value) in plaintext but hidden
• Users can copy/paste/delete the key but cannot see or extract it
• Cloud-hosted browser with real-time NER model for selective invisibility
• 15-minute session limit, US-only demo for latency
• Requires email verification to prevent abuse
• Webpages remain unmodified, focusing on sensitive data protection

Discussion Link, Original Link

I built an image-based logical Sudoku Solver [Image]

3 points, 1 comments

Image-based logical Sudoku solver that analyzes and solves puzzles from photos.

• Analyzes Sudoku puzzles from images
• Uses logical solving techniques
• No manual input required

Discussion Link, Original Link

InferMesh – Open-source, GPU-aware inference mesh for large AI serving [Developer Tools]

4 points, 0 comments

Open-source, GPU-aware inference mesh for large AI serving.

• Open-source solution
• GPU-aware architecture
• Designed for large-scale AI serving

Discussion Link, Original Link

RefForge – A WIP modern, lightweight reading list/reference manager [Productivity]

4 points, 0 comments

RefForge is a lightweight, local-first reading list and reference manager built with Next.js and Tauri, focusing on simplicity and extensibility.

• Desktop-first app with local SQLite storage (no cloud)
• Project-based UI for managing references with tagging and priority ratings
• Built using Next.js/React frontend and Tauri for desktop compatibility
• Plans for future features like PDF attachments, DOI lookup, and BibTeX export
• Open to user feedback on UX and feature priorities before further development

Discussion Link, Original Link

Citation Needed [Research]

4 points, 0 comments

A tool to find open-access PDFs of studies referenced in social media snippets by querying multiple academic databases and LLMs.

• Searches across Crossref, Open Alex, Unpaywall, and Google Scholar
• Uses LLM assistance to improve accuracy
• Supports open-access PDF retrieval
• May have slower response times

Discussion Link, Original Link

Verbiage, a Gemini-powered word game [Entertainment]

4 points, 0 comments

A word game powered by Gemini AI.

• Powered by Gemini AI
• Word game format

Discussion Link, Original Link