How Data Freshness Works

The Hacker News MCP Server retrieves data directly from Hacker News APIs in real-time, meaning every request you make fetches the current state of the platform at that moment. Unlike systems that rely on cached or periodically updated databases, this server queries the live Hacker News infrastructure, ensuring you always receive the most up-to-date information available.

When you ask for top stories, comment threads, or user profiles, the server makes immediate API calls to Hacker News and returns fresh results. This approach is particularly valuable in the fast-moving tech news environment where stories can rise to prominence within minutes and discussions evolve rapidly throughout the day.

Understanding Polling Behavior

The server itself does not automatically poll or monitor Hacker News on a schedule. Instead, it operates on a request-response model: data is fetched only when you explicitly request it through a query to your AI assistant. This design keeps the server lightweight and responsive while giving you complete control over when and how often you access Hacker News data.

If you need to monitor specific topics or track developing discussions, you'll want to make periodic requests yourself. For example, you might ask your AI assistant to "check the top stories on Hacker News" multiple times throughout the day to stay informed about trending topics.

Practical Implications

Because each request retrieves live data, you can be confident that story scores, comment counts, and rankings reflect the current community consensus. A story with 50 points at 10 AM might have 300 points by noon—requesting the same story again will show you the updated metrics.

This real-time approach also means response times depend on Hacker News API availability and performance. While typically fast, occasional delays may occur during high-traffic periods or if Hacker News experiences technical issues.

Best Practices

For casual browsing and research, simply request data whenever you need it. If you're monitoring specific developments or tracking breaking news, consider making requests at regular intervals that match your needs—every few minutes for active monitoring, or hourly for general awareness.

Remember that each request represents a fresh API call, so you're always seeing the latest community activity and engagement metrics without worrying about stale data or refresh schedules.