Understanding Connection Problems

When your Hacker News MCP server fails to connect or retrieve data, the issue typically stems from network configuration, API availability, or server setup problems. This guide will help you diagnose and resolve common connection issues quickly.

Verify Server Status

First, confirm that the Hacker News MCP server is actually running. Check your server logs for startup messages or error indicators. If the server hasn't started properly, you'll see initialization errors that point to configuration problems or missing dependencies.

Ensure that the Hacker News API itself is accessible. While rare, the Hacker News API can experience outages. Try accessing https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/topstories.json directly in your browser. If this returns data, the API is functioning normally, and the problem lies elsewhere.

Check Network Connectivity

Network restrictions are a common culprit. If you're behind a corporate firewall or VPN, these security measures may block API requests. Verify that your network allows HTTPS connections to Firebase domains, as Hacker News uses Firebase for its API infrastructure.

Test basic connectivity by pinging external services or using command-line tools like curl to make test requests to the Hacker News API. If these fail, your network configuration needs adjustment.

Review Configuration Settings

Examine your MCP server configuration file for errors. Common issues include incorrect API endpoints, malformed configuration syntax, or missing required parameters. Even small typos can prevent successful connections.

Ensure any environment variables required by the server are properly set. Missing or incorrect environment variables often cause silent failures that manifest as connection problems.

Examine Rate Limiting

While the Hacker News API is generally permissive, excessive requests in rapid succession might trigger rate limiting. If you're making many requests quickly, implement delays between calls or reduce query frequency.

Check Application Logs

Your MCP server logs contain valuable diagnostic information. Look for specific error messages related to timeouts, DNS resolution failures, or authentication issues. These messages usually indicate exactly what's preventing successful connections.

Test with Simple Queries

Start with basic requests like fetching top stories before attempting complex queries. If simple requests work but complex ones fail, the issue may be with specific API endpoints or query parameters rather than fundamental connectivity.

Restart and Reinstall

Sometimes a clean restart resolves transient issues. Stop the server completely, wait a few seconds, and restart it. If problems persist, consider reinstalling the server to ensure all dependencies are correctly installed and up-to-date.

Verify Dependencies

Ensure all required libraries and dependencies are installed and current. Outdated packages can cause compatibility issues that manifest as connection failures.