Hacker-News

What is Hacker-News?

Hacker-News is a native macOS client for Hacker News, built with SwiftUI. It lets you access and read Hacker News content from a dedicated desktop app rather than through a web browser.

The project is available on GitHub and includes instructions for installing the released app as well as building and modifying the source code using Xcode.

Key Features

• Native macOS application built with SwiftUI: targets macOS users who prefer a desktop interface for Hacker News.
• Installer available as a DMG release: users can install the app by opening the downloaded DMG and dragging the app into the Applications folder.
• macOS requirement listed for installation: requires macOS 14.0 or later.
• Releases on GitHub: the project provides a “latest DMG” via the Releases page.
• Source code available for developers: the repository includes an Xcode project (Hacker News.xcodeproj) and indicates that Swift packages (Sparkle) resolve automatically.
• MIT-licensed codebase: the repository is licensed under MIT, enabling reuse and modification under that license.

How to Use Hacker-News

1. Download the latest DMG from the project’s Releases page.
2. Open the DMG and drag the app into your Applications folder.
3. Launch the application on macOS 14.0 or later.

For developers who want changes or local builds:

1. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/IronsideXXVI/Hacker-News.git.
2. Open Hacker News.xcodeproj in Xcode 26+.
3. Build and run (Cmd+R). Swift packages (Sparkle) resolve automatically.

Use Cases

• Reading Hacker News on macOS: when you want a dedicated desktop experience for browsing Hacker News rather than using a browser.
• Installing the latest stable build: for users who prefer downloading a packaged DMG from the project’s Releases page.
• Developers extending the client: if you want to modify the SwiftUI app’s behavior or interface, you can clone the repository and build it in Xcode.
• Updating via the project’s release cadence: when you want to stay current with published app versions from GitHub Releases.
• Packaging or distributing under MIT terms: teams or developers who need an open source macOS client codebase can use the MIT-licensed repository as a starting point.

FAQ

What macOS version do I need to install it? The project states it requires macOS 14.0 or later.

Where do I download the app? The instructions say to download the latest DMG from the Releases page.

Do I need Xcode to use the app? No. The install instructions indicate you can install via the DMG without Xcode or developer tools.

How do developers build it from source? Clone the repository, open Hacker News.xcodeproj in Xcode 26+, and run the project with Cmd+R. Swift packages (Sparkle) are expected to resolve automatically.

What license is the project under? The repository lists the MIT license.

Alternatives

• Other native macOS Hacker News clients: similar apps that provide a desktop UI for Hacker News; they differ in interface design, feature set, and update cadence.
• Web-based Hacker News access: using a browser to load Hacker News directly; it’s typically simpler to try but may lack the dedicated desktop workflow.
• Generic RSS/news reader apps: if you want to aggregate multiple sources, RSS readers can centralize feeds, though they may not provide the same Hacker News-specific experience as a dedicated client.
• Building your own SwiftUI client: for developer-led customization, you can start from the open source approach shown here, though it requires Xcode and development effort.