5 ms·

What are the main reasons you want an API?

by polshaw 14y ago

p4bl0 14y ago
I guess something like the possibility to have a mobile application (either web based or native app) which would be usable (the tiny up- and down-vote arrows of HN are not easy to use using a finger on a touchscreen) and which would actually work by not relying on html-parsing or search kludge.
- blissland 14y ago
  >> I guess something like the possibility to have a mobile application See http://ihackernews.com/ http://ihackernews.com/
  - buster 14y ago
    That's a website not a mobile application.
    - enoch_r 14y ago
      >> mobile application (either web based or native app)
- guiambros 14y ago
  If you have an iPhone, there's news:yc. Great reader. Not perfect, but the best I found so far.
- adroitec 14y ago
  The best reading experience I've seen (by far in my opinion) for iPhone/iPad is http://cheeaun.github.com/hnmobile/ http://cheeaun.github.com/hnmobile/
VMG 14y ago
Building more powerful clients for desktop and mobile. Think user tagging, comment filtering, custom sort order, interface improvements.
- artursapek 14y ago
  I really like that HN still has such an old, simple interface. It's one of the reasons I haven't left yet.
  - btilly 14y ago
    About a decade ago I noticed this phenomena. Worthwhile communities need to be maintained by barriers. The kind of barrier that I personally enjoy most is, "Crappy enough interface that only people who really like the content will be motivated to show up."
    - artursapek 14y ago
      Yep. No magic tricks. Just substance.
      - xk_id 14y ago
        Amen to that.
    - VMG 14y ago
      I think it just correlates with the presence if images. Also StackExchanges have excellent UIs, APIs and still very good content. StackOverflow itself could also be worse.
      - btilly 14y ago
        That is a good comparison. StackOverflow has a good API, but maintains itself with carefully thought through and zealously enforced moderation rules. I grant the existence of useful content there and a good API. However after one too many brushes with how differently moderators think about stuff than the people who I liked talking to did, I have demonstrated the truth of my comment by choosing to leave. StackOverflow works for a lot of people. But for me, personally, a stripped down interface and less moderation is a better experience.
    - 14y ago

What are the main reasons you want an API?

by polshaw 14y ago

What are the main reasons you want an API?

p4bl0 14y ago

I guess something like the possibility to have a mobile application (either web based or native app) which would be usable (the tiny up- and down-vote arrows of HN are not easy to use using a finger on a touchscreen) and which would actually work by not relying on html-parsing or search kludge.

blissland 14y ago
>> I guess something like the possibility to have a mobile application See http://ihackernews.com/ http://ihackernews.com/
- buster 14y ago
  That's a website not a mobile application.
  - enoch_r 14y ago
    >> mobile application (either web based or native app)
guiambros 14y ago
If you have an iPhone, there's news:yc. Great reader. Not perfect, but the best I found so far.
adroitec 14y ago
The best reading experience I've seen (by far in my opinion) for iPhone/iPad is http://cheeaun.github.com/hnmobile/ http://cheeaun.github.com/hnmobile/

VMG 14y ago

Building more powerful clients for desktop and mobile. Think user tagging, comment filtering, custom sort order, interface improvements.

artursapek 14y ago
I really like that HN still has such an old, simple interface. It's one of the reasons I haven't left yet.
- btilly 14y ago
  About a decade ago I noticed this phenomena. Worthwhile communities need to be maintained by barriers. The kind of barrier that I personally enjoy most is, "Crappy enough interface that only people who really like the content will be motivated to show up."
  - artursapek 14y ago
    Yep. No magic tricks. Just substance.
    - xk_id 14y ago
      Amen to that.
  - VMG 14y ago
    I think it just correlates with the presence if images. Also StackExchanges have excellent UIs, APIs and still very good content. StackOverflow itself could also be worse.
    - btilly 14y ago
      That is a good comparison. StackOverflow has a good API, but maintains itself with carefully thought through and zealously enforced moderation rules. I grant the existence of useful content there and a good API. However after one too many brushes with how differently moderators think about stuff than the people who I liked talking to did, I have demonstrated the truth of my comment by choosing to leave. StackOverflow works for a lot of people. But for me, personally, a stripped down interface and less moderation is a better experience.
  - 14y ago