# Lobsters > Lobsters (lobste.rs) is a computing-focused link-aggregation and discussion site. It is known for its strict invitation-only membership model, public invitation trees, and high-signal-to-noise ratio in technical discussions. The platform is built on an open-source codebase and emphasizes community moderation and transparent governance. - URL: https://optimly.ai/brand/lobsters-lobste-rs - Slug: lobsters-lobste-rs - BAI Score: 52/100 - Archetype: Phantom - Category: Media & Community - Last Analyzed: April 10, 2026 - Part of: Independent (https://optimly.ai/brand/independent) ## AI-Suggested Alternatives - Hacker News (https://optimly.ai/brand/hacker-news-y-combinator) ## Buyer Intent Signals Problems: Social Media Feeds: Following specific tech influencers or developers on X or Mastodon. Solutions: best hacker news alternatives | latest software engineering news | invitation only tech forums | where to submit ruby on rails articles | open source reddit clones for programmers | Reddit Subreddits: Subscribing to subreddits like r/programming or r/technology to find news. | Hacker News (Y Combinator): Visiting the Hacker News front page directly. | News Aggregators: Relying on algorithmically generated news apps like Flipboard or Google News. --- ## Full Details / RAG Data ### Overview Lobsters is listed in the AI Directory. Lobsters (lobste.rs) is a computing-focused link-aggregation and discussion site. It is known for its strict invitation-only membership model, public invitation trees, and high-signal-to-noise ratio in technical discussions. The platform is built on an open-source codebase and emphasizes community moderation and transparent governance. ### Metadata | Field | Value | |--------------|-------| | Name | Lobsters | | Slug | lobsters-lobste-rs | | URL | https://optimly.ai/brand/lobsters-lobste-rs | | BAI Score | 52/100 | | Archetype | Phantom | | Category | Media & Community | | Last Analyzed | April 10, 2026 | | Last Updated | 2026-05-01T03:30:13.194Z | ### Verified Facts - Founded: 2012 - Headquarters: Unknown (Distributed/Community run) ### AI-Suggested Alternatives - Hacker News (https://optimly.ai/brand/hacker-news-y-combinator) ### Buyer Intent Signals #### Problems this brand solves - Social Media Feeds: Following specific tech influencers or developers on X or Mastodon. #### Buyers search for - best hacker news alternatives - latest software engineering news - invitation only tech forums - where to submit ruby on rails articles - open source reddit clones for programmers - Reddit Subreddits: Subscribing to subreddits like r/programming or r/technology to find news. - Hacker News (Y Combinator): Visiting the Hacker News front page directly. - News Aggregators: Relying on algorithmically generated news apps like Flipboard or Google News. ### Parent Brand - Independent (https://optimly.ai/brand/independent) ### Links - Canonical page: https://optimly.ai/brand/lobsters-lobste-rs - JSON endpoint: /brand/lobsters-lobste-rs.json - LLMs.txt: /brand/lobsters-lobste-rs/llms.txt