Launch

A software launch is a synchronized distribution event, not a single social media post. High-velocity launches choreograph pre-launch waitlist momentum, platform-native communities (Hacker News "Show HN" and Product Hunt), and real-time founder engagement into a concentrated 24-hour surge that overcomes initial algorithmic inertia.

1. Pre-Launch & Waitlist Sequencing

Build momentum before going public to guarantee day-one engagement:

• T-14 Days (Waitlist Landing Page): High-converting hero copy, 30-second product demo video, email capture with referral incentives (e.g. move up the queue by sharing on X/LinkedIn).
• T-7 Days (Beta Tester Mobilization): Invite early community members and power users into a private channel to test onboarding, find edge-case bugs, and prepare genuine day-of feedback.
• T-2 Days (Asset Finalization): Freeze production deployments; stress-test database connection limits and CDN caches for 10x traffic spikes; verify automated transactional emails.
• T-0 (Launch Hour): Synchronized push across email waitlist, Product Hunt, Hacker News, X/LinkedIn founder threads, and relevant subreddits.

2. Hacker News "Show HN" Playbook

Hacker News demands technical substance, intellectual honesty, and zero marketing puffery: