Understanding Connection Problems

If you're experiencing difficulties connecting to the Hacker News API through your Hive Intelligence MCP server, you're not alone. Connection issues can stem from several sources, and this guide will help you identify and resolve the most common problems.

Verify Your Server Status

First, confirm that your MCP server is actually running. Check your server logs for any startup errors or warnings. The Hacker News MCP server should initialize without errors and display confirmation that it's ready to accept requests. If you see error messages during startup, these often point directly to the underlying issue.

Check Your Network Connection

The server requires active internet connectivity to reach Hacker News APIs. Test your connection by accessing https://hacker-news.firebaseio.com/v0/topstories.json in a web browser. If this URL doesn't load, you may have network restrictions, firewall rules, or proxy configurations blocking outbound requests. Corporate networks often restrict API access, so verify that your network allows connections to Firebase and Hacker News endpoints.

Rate Limiting and API Quotas

Hacker News uses Firebase's real-time database, which has reasonable rate limits for public access. If you're making an unusually high number of requests in a short period, you may encounter temporary throttling. Symptoms include intermittent failures or delayed responses. If you suspect rate limiting, reduce your query frequency and implement appropriate delays between requests.

Configuration Issues

Review your MCP server configuration to ensure all settings are correct. While the Hacker News API doesn't require authentication, your server must be properly configured to communicate with your AI assistant. Check that the server is registered correctly in your MCP client configuration file and that the connection parameters match your setup.

Timeout Problems

Sometimes requests take longer than expected, especially when retrieving large comment threads or comprehensive user data. If you're experiencing timeout errors, try requesting smaller data sets or increase your timeout thresholds if your client configuration allows it. Breaking large requests into smaller, focused queries often resolves these issues.

Testing Your Connection

To isolate the problem, try requesting simple data first. Ask for a single story by ID or request the list of top story IDs. If basic requests succeed but complex ones fail, the issue likely relates to data volume or processing rather than connectivity.

When to Seek Further Help

If you've verified all these factors and still experience connection issues, check for service disruptions with Hacker News itself or consult your MCP server logs for specific error codes that can guide deeper troubleshooting.