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Show HN: Send private messages to anyone on HN

27 points by sideproject ↗ HN
https://fro.app

This is an experimental app that I've been working on. I wanted to send a direct private message to someone on HN (similar to what they have on Reddit).

- You create an account - You connect your HN account (by inserting a code on your HN about) - You type HN username and send a message - The message will be "received" once the other person also connects their HN account.

Some built-in rules

- Send up to 5 messages within 24 hour period. - If you get flagged as SPAM more than twice within 24 hour period, you won't be able to send a message for the next 24 hours.

I'm sure I'll need to adjust rules as I go. But it's been pretty fun building it.

And I'm sure many of you will... probably not like the idea of it. :) oh the joy of the Internet.

20 comments

[ 15.2 ms ] story [ 323 ms ] thread
sideproject
Here's a clickable

https://fro.app

ibdf
You should have some privacy policy about the messages sent, or at least some information about message/app security/encryption. Furthermore a web app as such might benefit from having a browser extension that implements/displays the messages on the HN page itself.
sideproject
Yes - definitely - I will add that. Thanks.
PhantomBKB
Is it 5 messages every 24 hours per user or on the whole?
sideproject
5 per user per 24 hours. Most likely will adjust as I monitor the usage.
cmroanirgo
From the wording of your registration, I could sign up as @dang?

(I presume some enterprising soul has already done this)

sideproject
Apologies for not being clear and no, you cannot sign up as anyone - that would be silly :)

When you sign up, we give you a unique code which you will have to add to your HN about section then we check that to verify your account.

xg15
That's pretty cool! Just signed up for the fun of it :)

Two things I noticed:

- There are two different "my account" links: One in the hamburger menu on the top left, one in the dropdown on the top right. The top-right one seems to be broken.

- There doesn't seem to be any way to delete your account again, unless I missed something. No cookie for you! (Though I guess that is following true HN spirit)

In any way, looks like a fun project. Good luck and keep up the awesome work!

sideproject
Thanks for the feedback! Yes definitely, will fix and implement those immediately!
klyrs
So glad that this isn't a feature of HN proper and I can opt out altogether.
throwaway81523
Easier to just put an email in your about, if you want to be contacted?
jasfi
The problem you have is you need enough users signed up for it to work.
karmanyaahm
Will you email when a message is sent to my account?
sideproject
Yep - working on notifications soon! (configurable, so you can opt-out and in)
udbhavs
If someone has a keybase link in their bio you can also send a message directly to their public key
wingerlang
In all honestly, it feels as likely to be read as writing straight into a black hole doesn't it?
codingdave
People who want to be contacted from HN already put contact info in their profile. Everyone else doesn't. Seems to work just fine.

I'm glad you had fun building it... it just doesn't seem to be solving a problem.

realty_geek
Don't think this solves a real problem but could be interesting if you open sourced it