Overview

The Hacker News MCP Server allows you to explore user profiles and their activity history, providing valuable insights into community members' contributions, expertise, and engagement patterns. Whether you're researching subject matter experts, tracking thought leaders, or analyzing user behavior, accessing profile information helps you understand who's contributing to discussions and what they're interested in.

Accessing User Profiles

To view a user's profile, simply ask your AI assistant for information about a specific Hacker News username. For example, you might request "Show me the profile for user [username]" or "What has [username] posted recently?"

The server retrieves comprehensive profile data including:

• Username and karma score - Understanding a user's reputation within the community
• Account age - How long they've been active on Hacker News
• About section - Biographical information and links users have chosen to share
• Submission history - Stories and links the user has posted
• Comment history - Their contributions to discussions

Understanding Activity History

User activity history reveals patterns of engagement and areas of expertise. When you request a user's activity, you'll see their recent submissions and comments in chronological order, allowing you to track what topics they're currently engaged with and how they participate in discussions.

This information is particularly useful for:

• Identifying domain experts - Find users who consistently contribute to discussions in specific technical areas
• Tracking thought leaders - Monitor the activity of influential community members
• Research purposes - Understand perspectives and opinions on particular technologies or companies
• Community analysis - Study how users engage with different types of content

Practical Applications

You can leverage user profile data for various purposes. If you're researching a technology, identify users who frequently discuss it and review their insights. When evaluating community sentiment about a product launch, examine comments from experienced users with high karma scores. For competitive intelligence, track what key technical voices are saying about different solutions.

Tips for Effective Use

Focus your queries on specific users when you have a username in mind, or ask your assistant to identify active contributors within comment threads on topics you're interested in. Combine user profile information with story and comment data to build a complete picture of discussions and the voices shaping them.