What You'll Need

Before connecting the Hacker News MCP server, ensure you have:

• An AI assistant that supports MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers
• Access to your assistant's configuration settings
• The Hacker News MCP server package installed on your system

Installation Steps

1. Install the Server

First, install the Hacker News MCP server package. The exact installation method depends on your system configuration, but typically involves using a package manager or downloading the server files to a designated directory.

2. Locate Your Configuration File

Find your AI assistant's MCP configuration file. This is usually a JSON file named mcp.json or similar, located in your assistant's settings directory. The exact location varies by platform and assistant type.

3. Add the Server Configuration

Open the configuration file and add an entry for the Hacker News server. You'll need to specify:

• A unique name for the server (e.g., "hackernews")
• The command to start the server
• Any required environment variables or parameters

The configuration typically follows a standard format where you define the server executable and its launch parameters.

4. Save and Restart

After adding the configuration, save the file and restart your AI assistant. This allows the assistant to recognize and connect to the newly configured Hacker News server.

Verifying the Connection

Once restarted, test the connection by asking your AI assistant a simple query like "What are the top stories on Hacker News right now?" If configured correctly, the assistant should retrieve and display current top stories from the platform.

Using the Server

With the connection established, you can now:

• Browse stories: Request top, new, or best stories from Hacker News
• Read discussions: Access comment threads and explore community conversations
• Research users: Look up profile information and activity history for specific users
• Monitor topics: Track discussions about technologies, companies, or subjects of interest

Simply phrase your requests naturally to your AI assistant, and it will use the Hacker News server to retrieve the relevant information.

Troubleshooting

If the connection fails, verify that:

• The server package is correctly installed
• Your configuration file syntax is valid JSON
• The server command path is accurate
• Your AI assistant has been fully restarted after configuration changes