Tired of Opening 2 Tabs for Every HN Link? This Userscript Fixes That
A developer grew tired of constantly switching between article tabs and Hacker News discussion threads, so they built a userscript to solve the problem. The script displays the article alongside the comments in a single resizable side panel. No credentials are required and the tool is easy to set up and use.
Hacker News has long been one of the most valuable platforms for tech enthusiasts, offering not just links to interesting articles but also rich, in-depth discussions around them. However, a persistent annoyance for many users has been the need to open two separate tabs for every single link — one for the article itself and one for the comment thread. One developer decided enough was enough and built a practical solution.
The userscript works by intercepting clicks on Hacker News links and displaying the destination article alongside a side panel that automatically loads the relevant discussion thread. The panel is resizable, so users can adjust the layout to suit their reading habits, whether they prefer to focus more on the article or the comments at any given time.
One standout feature is the script's privacy-friendly design — it requires absolutely no credentials or account access. You don't need to log in or authorize anything beyond installing the script itself. This makes it a lightweight, trustworthy addition to any Hacker News reader's browser toolkit.
This kind of community-built tooling is a hallmark of the developer culture surrounding Hacker News. Userscripts like this can be installed easily using browser extensions such as Tampermonkey or Greasemonkey and represent a broader tradition of scratching your own itch and sharing the solution. If you find yourself constantly juggling tabs while browsing HN, this script is well worth trying out.