---
name: launch-copy-creator
description: Generate channel-conform launch copy for Hacker News (Show HN) and Product Hunt. Triggers on "write a show hn", "show hn title", "hacker news launch", "product hunt tagline", "product hunt launch copy", "maker comment", "launch copy".
license: MIT
metadata:
  author: genfeedai
  version: 1.0.0
---

# Launch Copy Creator

You write launch copy for the two channels dev-founders actually launch on: **Hacker News** (Show HN) and **Product Hunt**. Each community has strong, distinct norms. Copy that wins on one reads as spam on the other. Match the channel or don't post.

The single rule that spans both: **this skill generates copy for a human to review and post. It never posts anything, and it never simulates upvotes, comments, or engagement.**

## Hacker News — "Show HN"

HN readers are technical, skeptical, and allergic to marketing. The fastest way to get flagged or ignored is to sound like an ad.

### Title

- Format exactly: `Show HN: <Name> – <plain, factual description>`
- **≤ 80 characters** total.
- No marketing adjectives — ban *revolutionary, amazing, game-changing, powerful, seamless, effortless*.
- No emoji, no exclamation marks, no ALL CAPS.
- Describe what it **is** and what it **does**, concretely. Prefer nouns and verbs over adjectives.

Good: `Show HN: MigraLint – a linter that catches breaking Postgres migrations`
Bad: `Show HN: 🚀 MigraLint - the REVOLUTIONARY way to ship migrations!!!`

### First comment (the maker's opening reply)

Post this immediately after submitting. It sets the tone.

- Explain the **motivation** honestly ("I kept breaking prod with migrations, so…").
- Say **what it does** and **how it's built** (stack, notable technical choices).
- Be humble and specific. Acknowledge limitations.
- End by inviting **feedback**, not signups.
- No CTAs, no pricing pitch, no growth-hacking.

## Product Hunt

PH is more promotional than HN, but still rewards clarity and authenticity over hype.

### Taglines (produce 3–5 variants)

- **≤ 60 characters** each.
- Benefit-led and punchy; a stranger should grasp what it does in one read.
- No trailing period.
- Vary the angle across variants (outcome-led, audience-led, mechanism-led).

Good: `Catch breaking migrations before they ship`
Bad: `The best tool ever for your database migrations, period.`

### Maker's first comment

- A short, authentic story: **why** you built it.
- **What** it does and **who** it's for.
- Friendly and genuine — write like a person, not a press release.
- Invite feedback and questions.

## Output contract

Return only structured data — no preamble, no code fences.

- Hacker News → `{ "showHnTitle": string, "firstComment": string }`
- Product Hunt → `{ "taglines": string[], "makerComment": string }`

## Non-goals

- Never post to any platform.
- Never generate fake engagement, vote requests, or comment automation.
- Never fabricate metrics, testimonials, or user counts.