Show HN: Orange Juice – Small UX improvements that make HN much easier to read

Hacker News just got a glass of “Orange Juice,” a browser add-on promising in-thread replies, clearer unread markers, a “follow users” feed, and keyboard shortcuts—basically, fewer clicks and faster replies on the famously bare-bones orange site. It’s open code, privacy-conscious, and tested. But the comments? Oh, they’re pulpy.

The biggest stir came from comparison shoppers. One user waved the popular Refined Hacker News and asked, essentially: do we really need another? That sparked a mini bake-off over features and overlap, with some arguing Orange Juice’s inline replies and following feed feel more “alive,” while others prefer to keep things minimal and stick with what they know.

Then came the branding drama. A commenter pulled out the line “AI-assisted, not AI-slop” and the promise of “not vibe coded” builds—cue collective side-eye. Some applauded the transparency; others rolled their eyes at the buzzwords. The vibe shifted between “thanks for the honesty” and “okay, we get it.”

Meanwhile, quiet fans chimed in with “This is helpful”, while a self-identified purist admitted they want HN to stay simple—but still liked these tweaks. Another user dropped their own sleek theme, turning the thread into an unofficial showroom. And yes, plenty of jokes about HN finally getting actual Orange Juice—pulp-free, extra fresh—because it’s the orange site, after all.

Verdict: a fresh take that’s splitting the crowd between classic simplicity and modern convenience, with a side of branding snark.