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Ask HN: What company do you wish existed?

• codegladiator 8y ago
  Some service which can take in my golang project from github and build static executable for every possible target and upload it to github releases. It will be using karalabe/xgo for building these static executables. So it can build these for all operating systems - web servers - cli applications
• ambivalents 8y ago
  A service that could look up every online account I've ever created, probably by email address, and allow me to completely delete it and all associated data. Like Unroll.me, but for user accounts. Oh yeah and without the sketchy data re-selling practices.
• ecesena 8y ago
  Folding laundry.
  • quickthrower2 8y ago
    You just need hired help. Probably find a cleaner on gumtree or similar, and ask them if they will do this for you. If you want the laundry ironed as well then a dry cleaner will do it for you. Some of them pickup and drop off.
    • ecesena 8y ago
      On the same line, you just need a taxi or a limo service, you don’t need uber & lyft. You can also call/book and have them pick you up. I don’t think the problem is solved yet in a way that’s satisfying.
• cimmanom 8y ago
  A way to purchase pre-cut lumber in small quantities. For instance, I need an 18-24" piece of 2x4 to prop up an air conditioner, and a couple 30" lengths of 1x10 to convert steam radiators into makeshift shelving. Oh, and four 36" lengths of 1/4" dowel to sew into the bottoms of curtains. Obstacles to my acquiring these: 1) The small corner hardware stores I can get to on foot or by transit don't sell lumber, period. 2) I don't own a car, and hate driving (I do have a license, but many of my neighbors don't, and I can get about my daily life 99% of the time without one). 3) OK, let's say I take a cab to a big box store. They'll only sell me full 8' lengths of lumber. 4) Fine, I rent a car or get a cab home, or maybe Home Depot has finally worked out that New Yorkers will buy more if they provide delivery even for small sales. 5) At this point, I've already spent $100 on taxis or more on car rental just getting to and from the store. 6) I finally get the lumber home, and I can't cut it. I live in a New York apartment, with no outdoor space for projects like this. I own a screw gun because it's useful for assembling Ikea furniture and attaching stuff to walls, but for obvious reasons I don't own a hand saw let alone a circular saw or table saw. Neither do any of my neighbors. And even if I had a saw, no way it's getting anywhere near my apartment's hardwood floors (do you have any idea how much the security deposit was?) 7) By some miracle, I find someone to lend me a saw AND a space to cut the lumber in (where??) -- I have nowhere to put the scraps and no sensible way to get rid of them.
  • mroll 8y ago
    Do you have a wide range of applications that you need this pre-cut wood for? Or is it one thing? I'm curious
    • cimmanom 8y ago
      See the above list: those are all current projects. Granted, that's about 3 years' backlog because I can't actually get the needed lumber - so maybe once a year or so. Another actual application from the past would be blocks of 2x6 to prop up a bed frame by a couple extra inches. I rather enjoy basic carpentry, so I might do more small projects (lap desk? monitor stand?) with better access to materials.
  • JoeAltmaier 8y ago
• davidjnelson 8y ago
  A service to match people with jobs based on their Signature Strengths[1] 1. https://www.viacharacter.org/www/Research/What-the-Research-Says-About-Character-Strengths-Signature-Strengths https://www.viacharacter.org/www/Research/What-the-Research-...
  • davidjnelson 8y ago
    Then I learned career matching is not a great fit for that[1]. Rather, doing whatever job you're good at and applying the strengths is more useful. So maybe a service that automates helping you use your signature strengths in your current position. That would be a hard problem, but seems like it would benefit society an incredible amount. 1. http://www.viacharacter.org/blog/use-your-strengths-to-further-your-career/ http://www.viacharacter.org/blog/use-your-strengths-to-furth...
    • imauld 8y ago
      A service that helps you use your strengths to excel at your job is called a manager (good ones anyway).
      • davidjnelson 8y ago
        True, but for the other x% of the population it could be great ;-)
• enrmarc 8y ago
  Capsule Corporation (from Dragon Ball): "a company that creates special small capsules that shrink and hold objects of various sizes for easy storage".
• astrodev 8y ago
  Long-term rentals without the phone calls, in-person visits and dealing with shady brokers. Airbnb was almost there but decided to focus on the mostly illegal hotel-like short-terms.
  • ruairidhwm 8y ago
    In Europe we have Spotahome which i've used a few times and found to be excellent.
• potta_coffee 8y ago
  weyland-yutani
• andrei_says_ 8y ago
  A company I can share a github repo and a description of a webpack config, and will get back the github repo with a working webpack config. “Here’s this new middlemanapp project running scss through sprockets. Set it up to process scss through webpack, make sprite-based icons from images in this folder, compile es6 and vue modules or coffee script and cue modules, include lodash, set up the hot reload to work with middleman’s, and prep production and Dev environments.” I’d pay for something like this.