4 ms·

I have an apprentice question. How did this article get to HN front page on 4 points?

• unimpressive 14y ago
  It's not hard to get to the front page if your article is fresh and it's night.
• napoleond 14y ago
  The algorithm, from what I understand, assigns positive acceleration based on upvotes over time, relative to other articles in the same period. In other words, at this time of day a few upvotes in a short period of time will do wonders. EDIT: As far as the actual article goes, I would have found it more valuable if it had named some of pg's teachers and mentors, rather than just dancing around the idea that "everybody is an apprentice at some point".