Ask HN: What are you working on? (February 2026)
Hacker News denizens flex their innovation muscles, unveiling a plethora of projects spanning AI agents, Rust-powered tools, and deeply personal solutions. From experimental biological self-tests to autonomous infrastructure, the community showcases a vibrant mix of cutting-edge tech and practical problem-solving. This monthly tradition highlights both ambitious entrepreneurial ventures and passion projects that redefine what's possible with current technology.
The Lowdown
The 'Ask HN: What are you working on?' thread is a monthly ritual where Hacker News users share their current projects, experiments, and entrepreneurial endeavors. It's a goldmine of nascent ideas, open-source contributions, and a testament to the community's relentless drive to build and innovate. This month's edition reveals a strong focus on AI agents, Rust-based development, and creative solutions to both technical and personal challenges.
- AI Agent Renaissance: Numerous projects leverage AI agents for tasks ranging from LLM context management ("context bonsai,"
planckscnst), agent skill packaging and security (Skulto,adamos486), autonomous infrastructure (system32.ai), to creative applications like AI-powered 3D modeling (Grandpacad,ponyous) and structured video generation (videozero.ai). The enthusiasm for tools like OpenClaw is palpable. - Rust's Rising Tide: Rust continues its ascent, powering high-performance applications such as a 3D game engine deploying to WebAssembly (
Chaotic Engine,pmhpereira), a native Linux Jellyfin client without Electron (Gelly,WD-42), a checkers game (rusty-checkers), and a Monte Carlo financial planner (finplan). - Ingenious Indie Innovations: Beyond the major tech trends, individuals are passionately building solutions for highly specific needs. Examples include a language learning framework for reading foreign books (
dminor), a no-code game engine extracting reusable components (craftmygame.com), an accessible CSS color palette tool (inclusivecolors.com), and niche SaaS products like a BJJ academy management system (MatGoat) or a Letterboxd for TV (epilog.tv). - Unconventional Experiments: The thread also features unique and thought-provoking personal experiments, most notably a biologist planning to inject microplastics into their bloodstream to study epigenetic effects (
koeng), and the philosophical exploration of logic and debate through a graphical argument mapping tool (Concludia,tunesmith). - Retro and Resurrected Tech: Some projects delve into older technologies, suchs as simulating MC6800 systems to boot classic DOS versions (
exorsim,jhallenworld), or restoring retro gaming experiences with modern raytracing on Apple Silicon (Descent Raytracer,strongly-typed).
Overall, this month's 'Ask HN' paints a picture of a highly active and diverse builder community. While AI remains a dominant force, many projects showcase a dedication to crafting robust, efficient software and solving real-world problems, often with a strong personal motivation.
The Gossip
AI Agentic Aspirations & Anxieties
The comments reveal a mix of excitement and apprehension around AI agents. Many are enthusiastically developing tools to manage, orchestrate, and secure agents, seeing them as a transformative force ("the new Linux"). However, there's also significant discussion about the practical challenges, such as LLM API inconsistencies, token management ("token tax," "context pollution"), and the difficulty of ensuring reliability and preventing "spyware" in AI-powered tools.
Rust's Resounding Rationale
A recurring sub-theme is the choice of Rust for new projects, often lauded for its performance and memory safety, and specifically chosen to avoid resource-heavy alternatives like Electron. Developers are using it for everything from low-level systems to user-facing applications, demonstrating its versatility and growing adoption in the community for building efficient, "native-feeling" software.
DIY Drive & Distinctive Devices
Many participants are driven by a desire to build solutions for their own unique problems or pursue deep personal interests. This ranges from developing ergonomic keyboards for health reasons (`taikon`) and creating personalized software for managing obscure hobbies (`MatGoat`, `8note`), to an individual embarking on a controversial microplastics self-experiment for scientific inquiry. The thread highlights the "scratch your own itch" ethos as a powerful motivator for innovation.