February 15, 2026
Shh... what's the password?
Show HN: Fieldnotes
Show HN: Fieldnotes — Secret password note app drops, crowd asks for a map
TLDR: Fieldnotes launched with a secret passphrase idea—use a shibboleth to share notes or type “terra” for a collective space. The crowd reacted with confusion and asked for clear instructions, highlighting that mystery alone won’t win users; simple onboarding turns a password from a barrier into an invitation.
Fieldnotes quietly slid onto Hacker News with a pitch that feels like a secret club: pick a shibboleth—a private password—and share a “field” with your people, or type “terra” to join the collective. Cool concept, but the audience instantly asked the obvious: what does this actually do, and how?
Top reactions captured the mood. detritus pleaded, “A deeper explanation on-site might not go amiss,” while deafpolygon bluntly confessed, “No idea how to use it.” Cue a wave of jokes: Hogwarts-style passwords, treehouse vibes, and eyebrow raises. The hot debate: mystery as marketing vs basic onboarding. Is the vibe fun and exclusive, or just confusing gatekeeping?
As memes riffed on terra sounding like Earth or a cheat code, the strongest take was simple: launching without instructions makes your secret feel like a wall, not a welcome. Fans of puzzles say the cryptic tone sparks curiosity and community, but most people want a 30-second demo and plain-language docs before picking a code word. The drama isn’t the tech; it’s the missing map. Right now, the password is doing the demo, and readers are asking for the tour.
Key Points
- •A shibboleth is defined as a secret passphrase known within a group.
- •Users pick a unique shibboleth to share a field with selected people.
- •There is an option to enter “terra” to join a collective field.
- •The article outlines a passphrase-based access model for sharing fields.
- •No additional features or technical details are provided beyond access instructions.