Ask HN / Hiringdemand signalby wastemescored by google/gemini-2.5-flash

Tell HN: Never search for domains on Godaddy.com

Opportunity

AI-buildable

Traction

Creativity

The take

effort: ~1-2 weeks

This Ask HN post describes a common and frustrating issue where GoDaddy (and similar registrars) appear to 'front-run' domain searches, registering desirable domains shortly after a user checks their availability. The user searched for 'felons.io' and found it registered by GoDaddy LLC the next day. The post serves as a warning and highlights a gap for a trustworthy, private domain search tool.

Demand & gap

Painkillerdemand 68

Demand

Will. to pay

Gap

Buyer

Prosumers

The gap in what exists: There's a clear gap for a truly private, unbiased, and transparent domain availability checker that users can trust not to 'front-run' their searches.
Wedge to win: Target indie hackers, developers, and small businesses who value privacy and transparency, offering a 'no-logging, no-tracking' promise for domain searches.
Reputation value (worth doing free for proof) — 70/100: Solving this widely discussed and frustrating problem with a transparent, open-source approach would significantly boost credibility with the dev and indie community.
Likely monetization: subscription for advanced features/unlimited searches
Incumbents to beat: GoDaddyNamecheapGoogle Domains

Deliver it

A starter prompt for Claude Code, what you'll need, and how to reach them.

You are an expert full-stack developer. Build a web application for private domain availability checking. The application should be built using Next.js 16 App Router, React 19, and Tailwind v4. The core functionality is a search bar where users can enter a domain name. Upon submission, the application must perform a WHOIS lookup to determine if the domain is registered and display key WHOIS information like creation date, registrar, and expiration date. Crucially, the search must be designed to minimize the risk of 'front-running' by registrars, meaning it should not directly use registrar APIs for availability checks. Instead, implement a system that queries multiple independent WHOIS databases or uses a rotating proxy for direct WHOIS queries. For the MVP, focus on '.com', '.net', '.org', and '.io' domains. Ensure the UI is minimalist and clearly communicates the privacy-focused nature of the tool. Provide a clear 'available' or 'unavailable' status. The verification gate for this MVP is a working web app where I can search for a domain and see its real-time availability and WHOIS data displayed privately, without being 'front-run' by major registrars. Emphasize the server-side logic for secure and untraceable WHOIS lookups.

Prerequisites — cost & what to learn

How you'd build it

1Set up a Next.js 16 App Router project with React 19 and Tailwind v4.
2Implement a server-side function to perform WHOIS lookups using a reliable, untraceable WHOIS API or direct WHOIS queries via a proxy network to prevent IP tracking.
3Design a simple, minimalist UI with a search bar and a clear display of domain availability and WHOIS information (creation date, registrar).
4Add a 'private search' feature with clear disclaimers about not logging searches or sharing data.
5Integrate with a diverse set of domain registrars' APIs (e.g., Cloudflare, Namecheap, Google Domains) for actual purchase links, but perform availability checks independently.

Risks & moats

Preventing 'front-running' is difficult; many registrars monitor WHOIS queries directly. A solution would need to mask search origins extremely well.
Building a truly 'private' search is technically challenging and requires significant trust-building with users.
Monetization could be tricky for a utility that users expect to be free or very low cost.
Legal challenges from domain registrars if the tool is seen as undermining their business model or exposing their practices.

Original context

searched a few days ago for felons.io, looked for unique names for simple game didn't know if I wanted it or not guess godaddy decided for me: 1 days old Created on 2020-09-16 by GoDaddy.com, LLC just a warning if you have a special name do not use godaddy to check if its available