news.ycombinator.com
scanned 2026-06-19 11:59 UTC · defs 2026.09
category overview
the breakdown
2 of 27 patterns flaggedFlat type hierarchy (sizes too close together)
Flat hierarchy
Font sizes that sit too close together (≥3 distinct sizes but less than a 2× spread between largest and smallest) produce no clear visual hierarchy — everything competes, nothing leads.
✓ clean, no tells in this category.
Numbered "1 · 2 · 3" step sequences
Numbered steps
Numbered 1·2·3 'How it works' sections are AI's go-to filler.
✓ clean, no tells in this category.
✓ clean, no tells in this category.
the four axes
slop: lower is better · system & AEO: higher is better
design slop
6/100
Clean
copy slop
not run
system · DESIGN.md
none
no DESIGN.md
AEO · agent-readable
not run
scan to evaluate
You've seen the score. Now fix it.
2 tells, heaviest first.
Numbered "1 · 2 · 3" step sequences+3
whyNumbered 1·2·3 'How it works' sections are AI's go-to filler. They almost never describe an actual product flow — they describe a generic 'sign up / use it / love it' loop.fixReplace the numbered steps with the actual product flow shown in real UI. A single annotated screenshot or 15-second video tells the user more than 1-2-3 generic verbs. If steps are essential (e.g. an actual checkout flow), make them visual — show the screen at each step.ruleNo numbered steps section with generic verbs like 'Sign up / Connect / Get started'. If you keep numbered steps, each must include a real product screenshot.
Flat type hierarchy (sizes too close together)+3
whyFont sizes that sit too close together (≥3 distinct sizes but less than a 2× spread between largest and smallest) produce no clear visual hierarchy — everything competes, nothing leads. The page reads as one undifferentiated wall of text.fixUse fewer sizes with more contrast. Establish a real scale (aim for at least a 1.25 ratio between adjacent steps, and a ≥2× spread from body to display). A confident hierarchy uses big jumps: small caption, comfortable body, then a heading that's clearly 2–3× the body.ruleDisplay-to-body size ratio must be ≥2×. No flat ladders of near-identical sizes.
npx slop-detect news.ycombinator.com --fix