lobste.rs ~~has~~had a js-error: here is a mitigation
Introductionhttps://lobste.rs – at the time of writing – has a javascript error on load for logged in users:
Uncaught ReferenceError: qS is not defined
at new _LobstersFunction (user-c27ac03d.js:144:34)
at user-c27ac03d.js:665:17
This error is causing much of the site functionality to not work, an easy way to check is to try and [preview] a comment, if that does not work – most likely you have an error in the js-console.
If you provide the missing definition for qS and qSA site functionality is restored in full-effect.
Known to fix:
- story / comment upvotes
- comment preview
$things_you_have_spammed_click_wondering_why_it_doesnt_work
Override using Dev Tools => Sources => Override
For those with webdev experience it is easy to fix the error yourself by simply patching the faulty script with the below:
const qS = (a, b) => b === undefined ? document.querySelector(a) : a.querySelector(b);
const qSA = (a,b) => b === undefined ? [...document.querySelectorAll(a)] : [...a.querySelectorAll(b)];
If the above is ran before the faulty line (665 in this case), all is well and things start working again.
Use an extension such as TamperMonkey
An easier alternative is to use TamperMonkey to automatically run custom javascript for the site, below is what I use:
// ==UserScript==
// @name lobste.rs undefined qS/qSA fix
// @namespace http://tampermonkey.net/
// @version 2026-07-27
// @description try to take over the world!
// @author You
// @match https://lobste.rs/*
// @icon https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?sz=64&domain=lobste.rs
// @grant none
// ==/UserScript==
(function() {
'use strict';
window.qS = (a, b) => b === undefined ? document.querySelector(a) : a.querySelector(b);
window.qSA = (a,b) => b === undefined ? [...document.querySelectorAll(a)] : [...a.querySelectorAll(b)];
})();
end-of-transmission
Personally I used the override approach after discovering this, but I assume there are more than me who want to use our beloved features while waiting for a redeploy of lobste.rs
(\_/)_00_(\_/)
^- me previewing my own comments like crazy with the mitigation
Happy browsing!