Integration
Track Hacker News karma on your desktop
Connect Hacker News to Orbl and show karma for any username on your macOS wallpaper. A local, read-only, private widget that updates without opening HN.
When a post hits the Hacker News front page, your karma climbs fast — Orbl keeps that number on your wallpaper so you can watch it move without sitting on the page.
Orbl turns your macOS desktop into a calm, living dashboard. Add Hacker News and karma for any username settles quietly behind your windows, updating on its own. A glance is enough; the tab can stay closed.
What Orbl shows
With the Hacker News integration connected, Orbl can display:
- Karma for any username you enter
It's a focused widget. Choose a size — small, medium, or large — and set it to always-on, reveal-only, or off. Because you pick the username, you can watch your own karma or keep an eye on a project account you care about.
How to connect Hacker News to Orbl
- Open Settings → Integrations in Orbl.
- Select Hacker News and enter the username whose karma you want to follow.
- Add the karma widget to your wallpaper and choose its size and visibility.
That's the whole setup. Orbl reads a public stat from the username, so there's nothing to authorize and nothing to revoke.
Private by design
Orbl is 100% local. The read-only username is stored in the macOS Keychain, and karma is fetched directly from your Mac to Hacker News — there is no Orbl server in the middle, and nothing is collected or stored remotely. The full explanation is on our privacy page.
The number on your wallpaper stays between you and Hacker News. Orbl just gives it a quiet place to live.
Pairs well with
If HN is one of several rooms you spend time in, it sits well beside the rest of your audience. Add Reddit for karma and followers, or Product Hunt for your follower count, and keep every community in one calm view. See them all on the integrations page.
One price, kept forever
The Hacker News integration is part of Orbl Premium — a one-time $29 for the first 50 customers, then $49. Lifetime license, no subscription. Full details on the pricing page.
Once you have a license, paste it into Settings → License Key and every integration unlocks together.
Stop reloading your profile to check the count. Get Orbl Premium and let your Hacker News karma rest on the wallpaper.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Hacker News karma widget private, and does it need any login?+
No login is required — Orbl reads a public stat from the username you enter, so there's nothing to authorize and nothing to revoke. The read-only username is stored in your macOS Keychain, and karma is fetched directly from your Mac to Hacker News with no Orbl server in the middle and nothing stored remotely. The number stays between you and Hacker News.
How often does the Hacker News karma update on my wallpaper?+
The karma widget refreshes on its own in the background, so when a post hits the front page you can watch the number climb without reloading your profile or keeping the tab open.
Is the Hacker News integration free, or do I need Orbl Premium?+
It's part of Orbl Premium, a one-time purchase with no subscription — $29 for the first 50 customers, then $49, lifetime. Paste your license into Settings → License Key and every integration unlocks together.
Can I track karma for a username that isn't mine?+
Yes. You enter whichever username's karma you want to follow, so you can watch your own or keep an eye on a project account. Karma shows as a focused widget you can size small, medium, or large.
What do I need to set up the Hacker News widget?+
Just a username. Open Settings → Integrations, select Hacker News, enter the username, and add the karma widget to your wallpaper with the size and visibility you want.
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