People ask for software recommendations in many public places. These guides cover four that matter to most software founders and that Distrarc can search: Reddit, Hacker News, GitHub and Stack Overflow. Each has its own culture and its own written rules. The rules always win over anything in these guides, so read them for every community you join.
- Reddit for software foundersEvery subreddit is its own community with its own rules. Read them before you write anything.
- Hacker News for foundersA technical audience that rewards substance and is quick to notice marketing.
- GitHub issues and discussionsDevelopers describe exact problems in issues. Help there must be on topic and welcome.
- Stack Overflow for foundersA question and answer site with strict rules about self-promotion. Good answers are welcome; ads are not.
Rules that apply everywhere
- Answer the question that was asked. If your product is not the best answer, say what is.
- Disclose your affiliation every time you mention something you built.
- Mention your product at most once, and only when it genuinely helps.
- Post yourself, from your own account. Distrarc drafts replies but never posts them for you.
- Follow the community's rules, including any limits on self-promotion or links.
For the broader approach, read replying in public without spamming. Distrarc can also search other sources, such as Bluesky, YouTube and web search results, depending on your product; see sources. To try it on your own product, start with the free first report or see pricing.