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When your Hacker News MCP server isn't connecting properly, you'll typically notice failures when requesting stories, comments, or user data. Connection issues can stem from several sources, including network problems, configuration errors, or API availability. This guide will help you identify and resolve the most common connection problems.
First, confirm that the MCP server is actually running. Check your process manager or terminal window to ensure the server started without errors. Look for startup messages indicating successful initialization. If the server failed to start, review any error messages displayed during the launch process—these often point directly to the problem.
The server requires internet access to communicate with Hacker News. Verify your network connection by attempting to access https://news.ycombinator.com
in a web browser. If the site loads normally, your basic connectivity is working. However, if you're behind a corporate firewall or using a VPN, these may block or throttle API requests even when web browsing works fine.
Configuration issues are among the most common causes of connection failures. Double-check that your MCP client is properly configured to communicate with the Hacker News server. Verify that the server path is correct and that any required environment variables are set. If you recently moved or renamed files, update your configuration accordingly.
Hacker News implements rate limiting to prevent abuse. If you're making many rapid requests, you may be temporarily blocked. This typically resolves itself within minutes to hours. Space out your requests and avoid hammering the API with rapid-fire queries. If you're building automated systems, implement appropriate delays between requests.
When troubleshooting, start with the simplest possible request. Try fetching a single top story or a specific item by ID. If basic requests work but complex ones fail, the issue likely involves your query structure rather than fundamental connectivity. Gradually increase complexity to identify where problems begin.
While rare, Hacker News may occasionally update their API. If the server suddenly stops working after functioning correctly, check the server's repository for updates or known issues. The maintainers typically address API changes quickly with updated releases.
Pay close attention to any error messages returned by the server. Messages about timeouts suggest network issues, while authentication errors (uncommon with Hacker News) indicate configuration problems. Parse error messages carefully—they usually contain valuable clues about the underlying issue.
Sometimes a simple restart resolves transient issues. Stop the MCP server completely, wait a few seconds, then restart it. This clears any stuck connections or corrupted state that may have developed during operation.
The QuickBooks integration lets you access and manage your financial data, including customers, invoices, expenses, and reports, directly through natural language commands.
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