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While I'm pleased to see this article on HN, is it appropriate to use a "subscriber link" in a public forum like HN?
by follower 16y ago
While I'm pleased to see this article on HN, is it appropriate to use a "subscriber link" in a public forum like HN?
- lhnn 16y agoI do agree that people who enjoy the quality of LWN.net should pay the $7 monthly fee. For Linux/FOSS hobbyists, it is a good online periodical. I speak as a once and future subscriber.
- rythie 16y agoI would be surprised if a link on the frontpage of HN didn't lead to more subscriptions - but I could be wrong.
- hvs 16y agoThey got me to subscribe precisely because every link I've ever followed to there from HN has been a well-written, engaging article.
- unwind 16y agoYes, that is exactly the purpose of LWN's subscriber links. It lets subscribers share content with non-subscribers in a "controlled" manner, which I guess means LWN can track usage and so on. I think it's awesome; thanks for sharing, rythie. See their FAQ: http://lwn.net/op/FAQ.lwn#slinks http://lwn.net/op/FAQ.lwn#slinks.
- follower 16y agoI guess I should have RTFF. :) "Where is it appropriate to post a subscriber link? Almost anywhere. Private mail, messages to project mailing lists, and weblog entries are all appropriate. As long as people do not use subscriber links as a way to defeat our attempts to gain subscribers, we are happy to see them shared." Thanks for pointing that out.
- JoachimSchipper 16y agoIt's apparently pretty common - you can also find them on e.g. reddit. I don't think they'd mind, or they could just limit to, say, 100 clicks.
- corbet 16y agoAs long as the posting of subscriber links in places like this is occasional, I believe it serves as good marketing for LWN - indeed, every now and then, I even do it myself. We just hope that people realize that we run nine feature articles every week, all of which are instantly accessible to LWN subscribers.