What is the Hacker News MCP Server?

The Hacker News MCP Server connects your AI assistant to Hacker News, one of the tech community's most influential discussion platforms. With this server, you can retrieve stories, read comments, view user profiles, and access real-time updates without leaving your workflow.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• An MCP-compatible client (such as Claude Desktop or another MCP-enabled application)
• Basic familiarity with configuring MCP servers
• An internet connection to access Hacker News data

Installation and Configuration

The Hacker News MCP Server requires minimal configuration to get started. Once you've added it to your MCP client's configuration file, the server handles all API interactions automatically. No API keys or authentication credentials are needed—the server connects directly to Hacker News's public APIs.

Refer to your MCP client's documentation for specific configuration instructions, as the setup process varies between different applications.

Basic Usage

Once configured, you can immediately start querying Hacker News through natural conversation with your AI assistant. The server interprets your requests and retrieves the appropriate data.

Browsing Stories

Ask for current top stories to see what's trending on the front page. Request new stories to view the latest submissions, or explore best stories for content that has demonstrated lasting value. Each query returns structured information including titles, URLs, scores, authors, and submission times.

Reading Comments

Access comment threads on any story to explore community discussions. You can retrieve entire conversation trees or focus on specific comments. This is particularly useful for understanding technical debates or gathering expert opinions on specific topics.

Exploring User Profiles

Look up any Hacker News user to view their submission history, comments, karma score, and biographical information. This helps you identify subject matter experts or track contributions from specific community members.

Example Queries

Try these natural language requests with your AI assistant:

• "Show me the top stories on Hacker News right now"
• "What are people saying in the comments on [specific story]?"
• "Get information about user [username]"
• "What are the newest submissions to Hacker News?"

Tips for Effective Use

Focus your queries to get the most relevant results. When exploring comments, consider asking for summaries of key discussion points rather than raw data dumps. For trend analysis, compare top stories across different time periods to identify emerging themes in the tech community.