Connection Issues

If you're having trouble establishing a connection to the Hacker News MCP Server, start by verifying that the server process is actually running. Check your system's process manager or terminal window to confirm the server started without errors. If the server failed to start, review any error messages in the console output—these typically indicate configuration problems or missing dependencies.

Network connectivity is another common culprit. The server requires outbound internet access to reach Hacker News APIs. If you're behind a corporate firewall or proxy, ensure that connections to hacker-news.firebaseio.com (the official Hacker News API endpoint) are permitted. Test basic connectivity by attempting to access Hacker News directly in your browser.

Verify that your MCP client configuration correctly references the server. Check that the server path or command is accurate, and confirm that any required environment variables are properly set. Mismatched configuration between client and server is a frequent source of connection failures.

API Rate Limiting and Throttling

The Hacker News API is generally permissive, but excessive requests in rapid succession may result in throttling. If you notice delayed responses or timeout errors, you may be hitting rate limits. Space out your requests and avoid making hundreds of queries in quick succession.

When querying large comment threads or retrieving extensive user histories, be patient. These operations may take longer than simple story retrieval because they require multiple API calls to build complete data structures.

Empty or Incomplete Results

If queries return no results or seem incomplete, first verify that the item IDs you're requesting actually exist. Hacker News items are numbered sequentially, but not all numbers correspond to active items—some posts are deleted or flagged and become unavailable.

When retrieving stories from feeds like "top" or "new," remember that these lists are dynamic and change frequently. A story that appeared moments ago might have already moved out of the top positions.

For user profiles, confirm that the username is spelled correctly and that the account hasn't been banned or deleted. Usernames on Hacker News are case-sensitive.

Timeout Errors

Timeout issues usually indicate either network latency or that the Hacker News API is experiencing slowdowns. Try your request again after a brief wait. If timeouts persist, check your internet connection stability and consider increasing timeout thresholds in your client configuration if that option is available.

Debugging Tips

Enable verbose logging if your server supports it to see detailed request and response information. This helps identify whether issues stem from the server, the API, or your queries. When reporting problems, include specific error messages, the type of query that failed, and any relevant item IDs or usernames you were attempting to access.