February 10, 2026
No JS, big waves
Show HN: I made paperboat.website, a platform for friends and creativity
Ad‑free mini blogs set sail—fans swoon, skeptics ask who owns the posts
TLDR: Paperboat.website launches as a simple, ad‑free space for personal blogs, earning applause for its calm vibe. The crowd’s biggest ask: clear promises on who owns the content and easy export, with comparisons to Bear and Fika fueling a friendly rivalry—minimalism wins hearts if users keep control of their words.
The internet’s newest tiny haven, paperboat.website, drifted into view—and the crowd went soft-focus nostalgic fast. Fans adored the calm, ad‑free, no‑JavaScript vibe, cheering creator Marv’s vision of simple personal blogs for friends. One early reaction summed it up: the aesthetic is “stripped down,” friendly, and a much‑needed breather from the endless feed.
But this cozy launch wasn’t drama‑proof. The hottest debate: data ownership and escape hatches. Commenters pressed for clarity—can a future owner sell users’ posts? Is there a one‑click export to Markdown so people can leave with their words intact? The mood: sweet on simplicity, salty about lock‑in. After years of platform pivots, the crowd wants guarantees before they cast off.
Meanwhile, comparisons sailed in fast: fans likened it to bearblog.dev “in a very positive way,” and another shout‑out went to fika.bar. That sparked a friendly mini‑rivalry—who does minimal best? Some want a “Discover” page like Bear’s to find cool writers; purists counter that discovery attracts clout‑chasing and ads. Through it all, a jokey refrain kept bobbing up: everyone loves the quiet... even if they’re already “drowning in channels.”
Verdict from the bay: charming boat, strong breeze—just show us the lifeboats for our data.
Key Points
- •Paperboat.website is a platform for creating simple, accessible personal sites and blogs.
- •Core features include no JavaScript, no advertisements, rich text or Markdown editing, accessibility, and RSS feeds for every blog.
- •Users can create sites, write posts, and follow other blogs; example blogs are linked.
- •A €5 support tier adds up to 10 sites, 3 friend invites, media uploads, custom domains, and custom color themes.
- •The platform is hosted and maintained by Marv in Leipzig, Germany, with a contact email provided.