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Troubleshooting: Common Connection and API Issues
Connection Problems
If you're unable to establish a connection to the Hacker News MCP server, first verify that the server is running correctly. Check your MCP client's configuration file to ensure the server path and startup command are properly specified. The server requires network access to communicate with the Hacker News API, so confirm that your firewall or security settings aren't blocking outbound HTTPS connections.
If the server starts but immediately disconnects, examine the server logs for error messages. Common issues include missing dependencies or incorrect Node.js versions. Ensure you have all required npm packages installed and that you're using a compatible Node.js runtime.
API Rate Limiting and Timeouts
The Hacker News API is generally permissive, but excessive requests in rapid succession may result in slower response times or temporary throttling. If you're experiencing timeouts or delayed responses, try spacing out your requests. When querying multiple items sequentially, consider adding brief pauses between requests.
If specific queries consistently time out, the issue may be with particularly large comment threads or data-heavy items. Try requesting smaller subsets of data or breaking complex queries into multiple simpler requests.
Empty or Missing Data
Not all Hacker News items contain complete data. Deleted comments will return minimal information, and some posts may lack certain fields like URLs (text posts) or comment counts (new submissions). If you're receiving unexpected null values or missing fields, verify that the item exists and hasn't been removed by checking it directly on the Hacker News website.
When querying user profiles, remember that some users may have minimal profile information or have deleted their accounts. The server will return whatever data is available from the API.
Item ID Errors
Hacker News uses sequential numeric IDs for all items. If you receive an error about an invalid item ID, confirm that you're using the correct number format and that the item exists. IDs must be positive integers, and very high numbers may reference items that don't exist yet.
Response Format Issues
The server returns structured JSON data from the Hacker News API. If you're seeing unexpected response formats, ensure your MCP client is correctly parsing the server's output. The data structure matches the official Hacker News API specification, with fields like title, url, score, by, and descendants for stories, and text, parent, and kids for comments.
Getting Additional Help
If problems persist after trying these solutions, consult the server's GitHub repository for known issues and updates. Include relevant error messages and describe your specific use case when seeking assistance.
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