Hacker News: hacky_engineer

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Ask HN: What Have You Built Privately with AI That You'd Like to Share?"

hacky_engineer — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:59:15 +0000

I don't feel like I made it, but I asked AI to build a cashflow manager chart thing for me. I can upload CSVs from my bank statements, and it displays my cashflow as a graph over time, and then I can put in upcoming and recurring expenses, so to see how much money I'm going to have to borrow over the next six months until my revenue catches up with all my pending liabilities. It feels like I'm in control if I can see the graph of my money, even if it goes pretty far negative.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Ask HN: What are you working on? (October 2026)"

hacky_engineer — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:26:40 +0000

I'm working on a book starring the 6 Simple Machines. I already did one book called "Simple Machines Made Simple." I'm now doing a follow up book that I'm thinking will likely be titled "Simple Machines Made Complicated" (or maybe Complex). Each page is a working mechanism. Kind of like a book full of fidget toys. So I want to have one page for each simple machine, and some of the progressions to complex are easy i.e. (wheel -> gears), but the one I'm currently stuck on is the pulley. My first book had a compound pulley, but now I'm struggling to figure out a more complex pulley example that I can recreate with less than 5mm for the page thickness. My first idea was to do like a roman blind mechanism with a pinch-stop type thing for the cord, but the more I played with it, the more I felt like this wasn't any different from the first book. I also like the idea of a chain hoist type mechanism, but I'm worried there isn't enough visual pay off for what you put into it. Like you move this chain thing around a bunch, but you only get a very small movement on the other end. Anyway, that's I'm working on. It might take me another 6 months, but I'm sure I'll figure something out ;)

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Ask HN: Did your side projects ever become something big enough to sustain you?"

hacky_engineer — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:47:37 +0000

Yeah! I worked on a baby book, Computer Engineering for Babies (https://hackylabs.com), for about 5 years before I launched it on Kickstarter back in 2021. It has two buttons and an LED to illustrate various boolean logic gates. The project surpassed all expectation, and I quite my job a year and a half later. I've launched 2 other books since then, and I'm working on a fourth.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Ask HN: As a freelancer how should I charge my clients in AI era?"

hacky_engineer — Sat, 19 Sep 2026 15:10:05 +0000

I would suggest charging what the market will bear. If you can win clients at your old time + rate, and people are happy, then do that. But eventually, over time, you would expect you will have to lower prices due to supply and demand, as it seems you're already anticipating.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Ask HN: What are you working on? (June 2026)"

hacky_engineer — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 17:49:03 +0000

I made a book, Simple Machines Made Simple, and I got about 11k copies shipped to my house about two weeks ago. I'm now trying to fix all the books and get them shipped out. They are books with little mini demos in them, and about 80% of the books need some type of rework. So it's going to be a long few months.

I also made Computer Engineering for Babies which I've posted about on here a couple times before.

https://hackylabs.com

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Tell HN: Amazon has deactivated my seller account"

hacky_engineer — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:59:30 +0000

Sent. Thanks!!

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Tell HN: Amazon has deactivated my seller account"

hacky_engineer — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:58:13 +0000

Thanks! I'll look around and see if I can find anyone that specializes in this kind of thing.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Tell HN: Amazon has deactivated my seller account"

hacky_engineer — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:41:22 +0000

Yeah, this would be safer, but is anyone going to find the product if it's listed as "MyBrand attachment sleeve for location sensor and TV remote control." instead of "Attachment sleeve for Airtag and Samsung Frame Remote Control?" I kind of doubt it..

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Tell HN: Amazon has deactivated my seller account"

hacky_engineer — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:34:52 +0000

Thanks! Yeah, I'll go through Brand registry. I'm guessing I need to get my account reinstated first somehow though.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Tell HN: Amazon has deactivated my seller account"

hacky_engineer — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 20:32:52 +0000

I would love to hear all your thoughts. Send me an email?

Tell HN: Amazon has deactivated my seller account

hacky_engineer — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:20:19 +0000

I sell 3d printed sleeves to attach an Apple Airtag to a Samsung TV remote. But Amazon thinks I am selling a Samsung device and has deactivated me for IP violations. My listings are very clear that this is FOR a Samsung device, and not an actual Samsung device. But Amazon's automated system can't figure it out. I am following their IP guidelines for compatible products (section 6C - https://sellercentral.amazon.com/help/hub/reference/GZUQ6GBBXQVHQKF2):

You can see one of my listings here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHZVVL1H

Every time I listed a new product for a different TV remote, my item would be flagged, but then I would go in and make a small edit, and that seemed to trigger some sort of review, and everything would be great.

Until last week, out of nowhere, my account has been deactivated.

To reinstate my account, they asked me to submit an authorization letter from the manufacturer or brand owner authorizing me to sell their products. Well, I figured, I am the manufacturer, so I wrote an authorization letter for myself, and even got it notarized for good measure, that I am legally allowed to sell these devices. But to no avail.

I have an option to "Submit new information." But have no new information to submit, and fear if I try submitting anything else, I'll be permanently banned or something.

The funny part is that on most of the products I have listed, I am losing money, just because of the FBA costs and the advertising costs. I lost about $250 last month between two of the variants.

The sad part is that I sell a book, Computer Engineering for Babies, and do most all my sales through my website, but do get a few orders a week through amazon for the book, and am now afraid the Amazon door is closed forever.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46709409

Points: 79

# Comments: 75

Redacted Material in Some Epstein Files Is Easily Recovered

hacky_engineer — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 05:47:41 +0000

Article URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/us/politics/epstein-files-redactions-doj.html

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46372850

Points: 3

# Comments: 0

Simple Machines Made Simple Book

hacky_engineer — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:56:27 +0000

Article URL: https://hackylabs.com/blogs/news/simple-machines-made-simple

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45687013

Points: 3

# Comments: 0

New comment by hacky_engineer in "World conker champion found with steel chestnut, cleared of cheating"

hacky_engineer — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 15:32:12 +0000

In the video they mention it was painted and looked like a genuine conker.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Scott Galloway: How the US is destroying young people's future [video]"

hacky_engineer — Mon, 13 May 2024 19:29:49 +0000

But it's still the one we have...

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Game of Life, simulating itself, infinitely zoomable"

hacky_engineer — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 19:13:39 +0000

If you're in firefox, try disabling Enhanced Tracking Protection.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Computer Engineering for Babies (2021)"

hacky_engineer — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 18:08:48 +0000

This makes me so happy. Thanks so much for sharing!

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Computer Engineering for Babies (2021)"

hacky_engineer — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 02:24:12 +0000

Yeah, this is a known issue with the light flickering on the cover page. Send me an email and I can get you a replacement.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Computer Engineering for Babies (2021)"

hacky_engineer — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 02:23:15 +0000

Reach out to me again and I can get you a replacement.

New comment by hacky_engineer in "Computer Engineering for Babies (2021)"

hacky_engineer — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 02:20:19 +0000

Hey, this is my book! Thanks for sharing! I just posted an update today to all the backers about the the sequel for Big Babies book. I'm hoping to start shipping in the next couple weeks.