IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

2025: The Year in LLMs

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. LLMs Remix the Past, Lacking True Novelty

Many argue LLMs merely interpolate training data, producing "new" outputs via remixing rather than innovation. "LLMs are literally technology that can only reproduce the past" (crystal_revenge). Critics note limitations in novel concepts or theorem proving: "they really can't produce truly novel concepts" (crystal_revenge). Defenders counter with practical utility: "I've used them to create my own personalized text editor, perfectly tailored to what I actually want" (handoflixue).

2. Rapid Progress in Coding Agents Boosts Productivity

2025 marked breakthroughs in tools like Claude Code, shifting from hype to workflows. "2025 was a big year... LLM coding in 2024 sucked" (noodletheworld). Users report efficiency: "Claude Code helps me make a majority of changes to our codebase now... insane efficiency boost" (n2d4). Skeptics demand metrics: "Did more software ship in 2025 than in 2024?" (bandrami).

3. HN Skepticism Amid Hype, Environmental, and Societal Costs

Dismissal stems from unmet promises, slop, data centers' impacts. "HN leans snake oil" (syndacks); "severe impact on the environment... tax money being siphoned" (techpression). Nostalgia contrasts AI frenzy: "back in the day, when a year of progress was... syntactic sugar to Java" (waldrews). Optimists urge trials: "a huge number of people don’t understand how capable it is yet" (threethirtytwo).

🚀 Project Ideas

Secure AI Agent Sandbox

Summary

  • A desktop app and CLI tool that runs AI coding agents (e.g., Claude Code, OpenCode) in isolated, configurable sandboxes using Firejail or devcontainers, preventing file deletions or escapes while allowing git/project access.
  • Core value: Enables safe "YOLO" agent experimentation without risking home folders or production systems, addressing normalization of deviance.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Developers testing AI agents
Core Feature One-click sandbox setup with whitelists, auto-backups, and agent-specific profiles
Tech Stack Firejail/WSL2 + Electron/Tauri CLI + LLM API integrations
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: Freemium ($5/mo pro features like cloud sync)

Notes

  • "AI agents deleting home folders" (aussieguy1234); Firejail guide praised but needs polish for VSCode agents.
  • HN loves secure dev tools; high utility for agent hype without risks.

Structured Doc AI Refactorer

Summary

  • Web/app tool for LLM-assisted editing of contracts, invoices, and bureaucracy docs: parses PDFs/Docs, suggests targeted changes via natural language, preserves formatting, and generates diffs for review.
  • Core value: Handles "modifying structured documents" drudgery where LLMs fail, empowering non-devs/CTOs with verifiable outputs.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Startups/CTOs handling legal/finance paperwork
Core Feature Upload doc + "add clause X" prompt → editable preview with tracked changes
Tech Stack LangChain + pdf-lib/Docx.js + Vercel AI SDK
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: $20/mo per user (unlimited docs)

Notes

  • "most tools are completely useless at modifying structured documents" (jillesvangurp); contracts/HR as pain points.
  • Practical for HN founders; sparks "secretary agent" discussions.

Local Data Center Impact Tracker

Summary

  • Open web dashboard aggregating public data on data center builds: jobs (construction/ops), taxes paid, energy/water use, community complaints; per-site maps with alerts for rural areas.
  • Core value: Empowers locals/residents to verify "jobs and tax revenue" claims vs. disruptions like noise/power hikes.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Rural communities, activists, policymakers
Core Feature Interactive map + API for energy/jobs data from EIA/permits
Tech Stack Next.js + Leaflet + Supabase + public APIs
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • "data centers got extremely unpopular" (simonw); debates on jobs ("few dozen?") vs. steel mills (jakeydus).
  • Fuels HN policy talks; utility for anti-AI-bro sentiment.

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