Prerequisites

Before connecting to the Hacker News MCP server, ensure you have Neon installed and properly configured on your system. You'll need access to your Neon configuration file where MCP servers are defined.

Configuration Steps

To connect to the Hacker News MCP server, you'll need to add it to your Neon configuration. Locate your Neon configuration file (typically found in your application settings or config directory) and add the server definition.

Add the following entry to your MCP servers configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hackernews": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-hackernews"]
    }
  }
}

This configuration tells Neon to launch the Hacker News server using npx, which will automatically fetch and run the latest version of the server without requiring a separate installation.

Verifying the Connection

After adding the configuration, restart Neon to load the new server. Once restarted, the Hacker News server should be available for use. You can verify the connection by asking your AI assistant simple queries like "What are the top stories on Hacker News right now?" or "Show me the latest Hacker News submissions."

If the server is properly connected, you should receive structured responses with current Hacker News data.

Using the Server

Once connected, you can interact with Hacker News through natural language queries. The server supports various types of requests:

• Browse stories: Ask for top stories, new submissions, or best posts
• Read comments: Request comment threads for specific stories
• View user profiles: Look up information about Hacker News users
• Search content: Find discussions about specific topics or technologies

Simply phrase your requests naturally, and the AI assistant will use the server to fetch and present the relevant information.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter connection issues, verify that:

• Your configuration syntax is correct with proper JSON formatting
• You have an active internet connection (the server needs to access Hacker News APIs)
• Neon has been fully restarted after adding the configuration
• Your system can execute npx commands

For persistent issues, check that your Neon installation is up to date and that no firewall rules are blocking the connection.