Show HN: A simple, auto-layout family tree generator

Re:Show HN: A simple, auto-layout family tree generator by library-frog on Friday March 06, 2026 @03:03PM (#47280353)

Love how simple this is! It would be great if there you were able to add siblings without having a parent added first. And being able to add a child with only one parent present as well--there's an error that states the parent needs a spouse before adding a child.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Show HN: A simple, auto-layout family tree generator by familytreeeasy on Saturday March 07, 2026 @07:43AM (#47287160)

Thanks! You’re right that adding siblings without a parent is tricky from a data-structure perspective—they need a common parent or family node to define the relationship.

To solve this without breaking the tree structure, I’m planning to support "single-parent" nodes. This will allow you to create an empty or placeholder parent to group siblings together without needing a spouse.

This should give you the flexibility you’re looking for while keeping the underlying hierarchy intact. Thanks for helping me refine these edge cases!

[ Parent | on HN ]