Hacker Smacker

What is Hacker Smacker?

Hacker Smacker is a browser extension that adds friend and foe functionality to Hacker News. The tool displays three interactive orbs next to each commenter's name, allowing users to mark authors as friends or foes based on comment quality and engagement style. When marked, these designations persist across future Hacker News threads, making it easier to identify and locate preferred commenters while filtering out unwanted contributors. The extension is designed for Hacker News readers who want to streamline their browsing experience by quickly spotting quality discussions and authors worth following. Rather than reading through entire comment threads, users can glance at the friend/foe indicators to prioritize which comments to read. The tool is inspired by Slashdot's established friend/foe system and brings similar community-focused filtering to Hacker News. Hacker Smacker is open-source software, available on GitHub for review and contribution. The project requires no subscription or payment, making it freely accessible to all Hacker News users. The extension helps reduce time spent browsing by surfacing meaningful conversations and commentary from trusted community members.