Prerequisites

Before connecting the Hacker News MCP server, ensure your AI assistant supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP). You'll need access to your assistant's configuration settings and basic familiarity with JSON configuration files.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Locate Your Configuration File

Find your AI assistant's MCP configuration file. This is typically named mcp_config.json or similar, and is located in your assistant's settings directory. The exact location varies depending on your platform and assistant.

Step 2: Add the Server Configuration

Open the configuration file and add the Hacker News MCP server entry. You'll need to include the server's connection details in the appropriate section of the configuration. The server requires minimal setup—simply specify the server identifier and any connection parameters your assistant requires.

Step 3: Restart Your Assistant

After saving the configuration changes, restart your AI assistant to load the new server connection. The assistant will establish a connection to the Hacker News MCP server during initialization.

Verifying the Connection

Once restarted, test the connection by asking your assistant a simple query like "What are the top stories on Hacker News right now?" If the server is properly connected, your assistant will retrieve and display current top stories from Hacker News.

Using the Server

With the connection established, you can interact with Hacker News through natural language. Here are some example requests:

• "Show me the latest tech news from Hacker News"
• "What are people saying about [topic] on Hacker News?"
• "Find the most popular comments on this story"
• "What has [username] been posting about recently?"

The server handles all API interactions automatically, translating your requests into Hacker News queries and presenting the results in an easily readable format.

Troubleshooting

If the server isn't responding, verify your configuration syntax is correct and that your AI assistant has network access. Check that the server identifier matches exactly what's specified in your configuration. Restart your assistant after making any configuration changes.

Next Steps

Explore the server's capabilities by experimenting with different types of queries. Try tracking specific topics, analyzing comment threads, or monitoring user activity to discover how the server can enhance your workflow with real-time access to the Hacker News community.