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Show HN: Workout.cool – Open-source fitness coaching platform

(github.com)
827 points surgomat | 8 comments | 18 Jun 25 12:33 UTC | HN request time: 0.641s | source | bottom

I was the main contributor to workout.lol, an open-source fitness app to easily build a workout routine. The project had traction (1.4k GitHub stars, 95 forks, ~20K visits/month), but was eventually sold due to video licensing hurdles. The new owner stopped maintaining it, and the repo went abandoned.

Over the next 9 months, I sent 15 emails to try to save it : no replies. Feature requests & issues were ignored. The community was left with a "broken" tool let's say.

I couldn't just let it die So I built the new version from scratch with the same open-source spirit, but a better architecture long-term vision, more features and no license problems.

It's called : Workout.cool (https://workout.cool). What it offers: 100% open-source, MIT-licensed - 1200+ exercises (with videos, attributes, translations) - Progress tracking - Multilingual-ready - Self-hostable

I'm not doing this for money. I'm doing it because I believe in open fitness tools, and I’ve been passionate about strength training for 15+ years.

If this resonates with you, feel free to: - Star the repo - Share with fitness/tech friends - Suggest features - Contribute code/design/docs

Together, we can build the open-source fitness platform we all wanted to easily build a workout routine and get in shape

Website: https://workout.cool GitHub: https://github.com/Snouzy/workout-cool

1. Sander_Marechal ◴[18 Jun 25 14:31 UTC] No.44310237[source]▶
It would be great if the equipment and muscle selection wasn't mandatory. For example, I have a pull-up bar but I have no idea what muscles I can train with it. Why not let me filter on beginner exercises instead?
replies(2): >>44310547 #>>44311145 #
2. lifesaverluke ◴[18 Jun 25 15:05 UTC] No.44310547[source]▶
then you should choose your pull-up bar as equipment, right?
replies(2): >>44316292 #>>44318927 #
3. surgomat ◴[18 Jun 25 16:14 UTC] No.44311145[source]▶
Mh yeah i didn't expect that but it shows that the current flow assumes a bit too much knowledge up front, I"ve heard similar feedback from others.

I'm already planning to make the filters optional, and add things like "beginner-friendly", "popular exercises", "calisthetics", ...

Thanks for pointing it out

replies(1): >>44312396 #
4. flkiwi ◴[18 Jun 25 18:57 UTC] No.44312396[source]▶
This is the number one complaint I have with all of these solutions (and my tone here is friendly, not irritated): they assume you're already far along your fitness journey. Watching Apple's iOS updates talk about AI coaches to "help ensure you stay in your max results zone" or whatever ... my dude, that person doesn't need an AI coach. That person is already optimizing by fractions of a performance percentage point. People need, and benefit from, tools and coaching when they're starting from zero.
replies(2): >>44313131 #>>44318903 #
5. surgomat ◴[18 Jun 25 20:43 UTC] No.44313131{3}[source]▶
> "ensure you stay in your max results zone"

lol true

Tbh that's exactly the gap Im trying to fill with Workout.cool. After reading all the feedback here (including yours), I've realized we need to make things even simpler and more beginner-friendly.

not some hyper-optimized tracker, but yeah a simple, open, and welcoming entry point into strength training. Got it. It's faaaar from perfect yet, but it's made with that intention at heart. Trust me !

Thanks again for your feedback mate.

6. Sander_Marechal ◴[19 Jun 25 07:18 UTC] No.44316292[source]▶
In my specific case, yes. But you could also flip it around. Maybe select some muscles and not select any equipment. They you can see what kind of equipment you might want to buy.
7. bluGill ◴[19 Jun 25 14:16 UTC] No.44318903{3}[source]▶
> that person doesn't need an AI coach. That person is already optimizing by fractions of a performance percentage point.

But that is the person who will use and pay for the app. If spending $100 will get them a training plan that is 0.01% better they will do it. Couch potatoes know they need to change, but they probably won't pay for a app (if they do they won't use it).

8. bluGill ◴[19 Jun 25 14:19 UTC] No.44318927[source]▶
A pull up bar is the first thing you should get since it can target muscles that are hard to do any other way. For most other muscles you can find some other way to strengthen them just using body weight exercises.

For most people a pull up bar plus body weight exercises will get them everything they want: enough fitness for good health. If you want to win competitions you need the right equipment (different competitions need different equipment).