Tutorials Hacker News recommends
Every tutorial in the HackerTube list, best-scored first. The score counts the number of different months in which someone on HN recommended it, so a tutorial people kept coming back to for years outranks one viral thread.
- 11 HN recommenders 11 months 2019–2026HN repeatedly recommends it as the best hands-on way to understand how a CPU and a computer work from first principles.
- 13 HN recommenders 10 months 2021–2025HN repeatedly calls it a mind-blowing and accessible introduction to SDFs and procedural art from a master explainer.
- 11 HN recommenders 10 months 2012–2026R Russ Cox · tutorialHN points people to it as the best introduction to Acme and its very different take on editors, shells, and GUIs.
- 11 HN recommenders 11 months 2018–2026P PeriscopeFilm · tutorialHN treats it as the classic demonstration of how analog mechanical computation works, especially the differential gear section.
- 14 HN recommenders 8 months 2023–2025It is the go-to recommendation for learning how transformers and LLMs actually work, praised for its clarity and Karpathy's teaching.
- 8 HN recommenders 8 months 2023–2024Repeatedly named the best practical tutorial for using LLMs, with a well-liked fine-tuning section.
- 3 HN recommenders 6 months 2018–2022M matrixsynth · tutorialRepeatedly called the best beginner course on audio synthesis, since the concepts have not changed since it was made.
- 8 HN recommenders 7 months 2019–2024HN recommends it as a clear, from-scratch look at how video hardware works, understandable with just basic logic knowledge.
- 10 HN recommenders 7 months 2020–2024HN commenters share it as an easy-to-follow guided exercise for anxiety, stress, and recovery, with many reporting daily use.
- 7 HN recommenders 7 months 2022–2025HN commenters point to it as the best demonstration of procedural graphics from a master, accessible to beginners yet deep enough for advanced viewers.
- 8 HN recommenders 7 months 2013–2022Repeatedly offered as the quickest, most convincing demo of structured editing and why Lisp programmers love paredit.
- 3 HN recommenders 5 months 2015–2019A favorite on Ask HN lists of programming YouTube channels, praised for mind-blowing systems and graphics programming and a watchable coding style.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2017–2020Repeatedly called an excellent, practical introduction that covers a lot in two hours and explains issues academic textbooks skip.
- 7 HN recommenders 6 months 2021–2025HN commenters recommend it as a clear, comprehensive explanation of USB signaling and keyboard polling.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2013–2020C ConceptVBS · tutorialHN loves it as an example of old-school instructional film that makes how a differential works fully understandable in clear, simple language.
- 7 HN recommenders 6 months 2020–2025C Chris McCord · tutorialHN points people to it as the demo that shows why LiveView and Elixir are worth a look.
- 4 HN recommenders 6 months 2015–2024S ScoopexUs · tutorialRecommended as an approachable start to Amiga demo and 68000 assembly programming.
- 7 HN recommenders 6 months 2024–2026C Cool Bug Facts · tutorialHN commenters call it an internet classic that makes you a more proficient Excel user, and note it is still relevant despite predating newer functions like XLOOKUP.
- 4 HN recommenders 5 months 2019–2025A Allieway Audio · tutorialHN commenters call it the best video overview of Orca, the explanation that makes the unusual interface click.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2023J John Bartholomew · tutorialStrongly recommended as a way to improve at chess, since it explains the basics and common mistakes at each rating level.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2009–2018D David Kuckhermann · tutorialFrequently recommended in RSI and wrist pain threads by people who say the stretches relieved their own symptoms.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2017G Glen Maddern · tutorialCommenters credit it with opening their eyes to JSPM and using it to choose build systems.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2019–2021P PyCon 2019 · tutorialHN calls it a brilliant, mind-bending introduction to lambda calculus for programmers.
- 3 HN recommenders 5 months 2013–2022HN programmers admire it as a clean, clever demonstration of emulator design and as the standout of a favorite programming YouTuber.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2025I Imphenzia · tutorialIt is the most-recommended beginner Blender tutorial on HN, with several people saying it made them comfortable in a couple of hours.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2016–2017HN commenters recommend it as an approachable first step into machine learning for programmers, with an apples-vs-oranges classifier.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2023–2026HN points to it as an impressive, hands-on DIY demonstration of passive radiative cooling that works in practice.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2023L lbtv · tutorialHN considers it an outstanding explanation of why drivers miss motorcycles and cyclists, linked in threads on visibility and junction crashes.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2020A Alex Booker · tutorialHN commenters call it the best i3 tutorial on YouTube and recommend it for getting started thoroughly.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2019–2023A ANDREW HUANG · tutorialHN recommends it as a concise, approachable starting point for anyone asking how to learn music theory.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2016–2023R ringinginearsv · tutorialTinnitus sufferers share it as a free trick that briefly stops the ringing, though not as a cure.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2021HN commenters call it a beautiful, brilliant demonstration of APL's expressiveness and a model of clear narration.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2022HN recommends it as an approachable way into C and low-level programming that gets to something visible quickly.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2023–2026It comes up whenever radiative cooling coatings are in the news, as a hands-on DIY guide that shows the approach working with household materials.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2021Whenever e-ink refresh speed or driving waveforms come up, HN points to this as the clearest hands-on explanation of how these displays work and how to hack them.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2022–2025HN points to it as a practical, well-researched DIY demonstration of passive radiative cooling.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2023A American Masters PBS · tutorialHN people call it a favorite cooking video and a model of mastery, showing two omelet styles in about five minutes.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2014–2025J Jim Pavloff · tutorialRecommended as a fun, in-depth look at how sampling and music production work, and as proof that skilled humans can reconstruct tracks from scratch.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2012–2022M Michigan Medicine · tutorialHN people link it during wildfire smoke and air quality threads as a practical, cheap fix, though a few doubt how rigorously its effectiveness was shown.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2026Recommended as a tiny, useful life hack many commenters adopted for good.
- 3 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2021R Robert Baruch · tutorialHN recommends the series as a practical introduction to nMigen and formal verification for CPU design.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2024Recommended as an absorbing masterpiece of craftsmanship, often raised in threads about watches and clockmaking.
- FreeCAD 0.20 For Beginners | 1 | Setup , preferences and navigation | Easy Tutorial for Learning CAD3 HN recommenders 3 months 2023–2024M MangoJelly Solutions for FreeCAD · tutorialHN recommends it as an excellent beginner series that fills FreeCAD's gap in learning material.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2026Recommended as a favorite among practical Blender guides from a hugely productive solo artist.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2025A Anders Brownworth · tutorialHN repeatedly recommends it as the best ground-up, non-hype introduction for people who want to understand what a blockchain actually is.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016HN readers recommend it as a thorough, practical introduction to Postgres fundamentals and optimization for application developers.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2022Recommended as an eye-opening, fast introduction to what Blender can do and a model of a productive workflow.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023Called a rite of passage for new Blender users and the standard first recommendation for learning the program.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2023N newnew2005love · tutorialHN calls it the single best cooking video on the internet and suggests it as a skill worth practicing for an hour.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2025–2026O OUTDOORS55 · tutorialRecommended by commenters who say its practical, scientific explanations finally taught them how and why sharpening works.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2017–2025D Dobson Astro-Initiatives · tutorialRecommended to anyone interested in telescope making as a guide from Dobson himself.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2021HN users say it made Vim's completion system click for them.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2024S System Crafters · tutorialRecommended as a thoughtful, step-by-step way to build your own Emacs config rather than starting from Doom or Spacemacs.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2022K Kristy Viers · tutorialHN recommends it to show what on-device accessibility features can do and how blind users actually use an iPhone.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2025HN points to it in threads on artificial sunlight, as a buildable and surprisingly convincing artificial window.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2021F Fun Fun Function · tutorialRecommended to people confused by monads as a friendly, practical explanation for JavaScript developers, with one commenter saying it finally made it click.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2023F Func Prog Sweden · tutorialHN commenters recommend it as a clear, enjoyable introduction to Clojure and a good example of REPL-driven development.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2025HN commenters point to it as a build guide for cheap DIY speakers that sound as good as expensive ones.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2026HN treats it as the definitive resource for understanding Pin semantics and lists it among async Rust learning materials.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2021HN recommends the series as a thorough look at low-level game programming by someone with deep knowledge, offered free.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2021L LifebyMikeG · tutorialHN commenters recommend it as a practical, home-bakable sourdough pizza method that gets close to stone-oven quality.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2022L Linking Your Thinking with Nick Milo · tutorialHN recommends it as an approachable start-here demo for people new to Obsidian.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2025N NathanielsCAD · tutorialHN points to it as an unusually clear teaching film on how celestial navigation works, and as an example of how good old military training material is.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2023HN people recommend it as the best way to understand what async machinery actually does under the covers.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2015–2018HN commenters point beginners to this series as one of the clearest short walkthroughs of how neural networks and backpropagation work.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2023Recommended as the key video for understanding control logic and microcode.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2025HN coffee fans cite it as a forgiving, repeatable recipe that gives good results.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2022E Essential Craftsman · tutorialHN users recommend the Spec House series as a free, extremely detailed education in how a house is actually built.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2020Z Zaiste Programming · tutorialHN users recommend the series to newcomers learning Emacs, Doom, org-mode, projectile and magit.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2022J Jellybean Fenderson · tutorialHN finds it mesmerizing and uses it to build intuition for waveforms and oscilloscope XY drawing.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2021Recommended as an enlightening and funny explanation of bridge rectifiers, often linked in power supply teardown threads.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2023–2024HN commenters swear by it as the best way to make French press coffee, and cite its 16:1 water-to-coffee ratio.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2026N NaturalRunningCenter · tutorialHN commenters call it the best video on natural running form and link it in running technique threads.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2021J jekor · tutorialRecommended to Haskell learners as a rare example of building a real program step by step beyond toy examples.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2025Recommended as the most beginner-friendly way into shader programming and procedural graphics.
- 5 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2026Whenever eye contact in video calls comes up, commenters point to this as the cheap homemade teleprompter-style solution.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023V Virtusan · tutorialHN commenters recommend it as a short, practical guided rest session to use during a midday break or nap.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2022P Phil’s Lab · tutorialHN people recommend it as a real, end-to-end PCB design walkthrough that beginners successfully imitated to learn KiCad.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2024–2026H Harvard Business Review · tutorialHN commenters share it as a short, practical resource for people who struggle with small talk.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023B Ben Vallack · tutorialHN recommends it as a thorough, general walkthrough of the steps in designing your own keyboard.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2021HN fans praise Bisqwit as a favorite programming YouTuber and this video as an excellent look at dithering.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2022T Tsoding · tutorialHN recommends it as a hands-on way to understand Haskell and parser combinators by watching a parser get built live.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024HN recommends it as a long but worthwhile way to demystify how language models work technically.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2022Recommended as a thorough introduction showing what Org mode can do for personal organization.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2025T The British Museum · tutorialRecommended as the best short, funny and approachable introduction to cuneiform on YouTube.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2022HN people recommend it as an affordable, good-quality way to digitize analog video.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2025P Phil’s Lab · tutorialHN recommends it as a practical way to learn KiCad and PCB design by following one full project.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2012–2020Recommended as a good introduction to SMD soldering techniques for beginners.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2023M Matrixdotorg · tutorialRecommended as a practical demonstration that self-hosting a Matrix server is fairly easy, even on a small droplet.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2021N Nuno Afonso · tutorialJai had no public release, so commenters point to this beta user's videos as a way to see what the language is actually like.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2023HN commenters credit it for inspiring their own satellite-reception hobby and praise the channel's high-quality content.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2016–2017B Bill Johnson · tutorialHN users recommend it as an amusing, practical overview of padlocks from cheap to high security.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2023Recommended as a slow-paced, detailed live-coding session that makes lifetimes click once you are past Rust basics.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2024A AlanBeckerTutorials · tutorialRecommended as a compact starting point for making animations feel more compelling, including for UI and app developers.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2014–2015HN commenters point newcomers to it as a solid starting point for getting to know Julia.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2022D DigiKey · tutorialRecommended as a friendly starting point for people who want to learn PCB design with free tools.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2010–2023HN points to it as the classic example of home-made semiconductors and a fun way to go down to the transistor level.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2022T Townsends · tutorialHN commenters who have cooked it recommend it as a reliable, delicious recipe and a good historical explanation of pre-tomato ketchup.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2022Recommended as informal, long-form live coding to watch, though some commenters criticize his style.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2024T The Power of Prolog · tutorialHN recommends it as the best short introduction to what makes Prolog unique.
Showing the 100 best-scored of 176. Use search to find the rest.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.