Understanding Connection Problems

Connection issues with the Hacker News MCP server typically stem from a few common causes. This guide will help you identify and resolve problems that prevent your server from connecting to Hacker News or communicating with your AI assistant.

Verify Server Configuration

First, ensure the server is properly installed and configured. Check that all dependencies are installed by running the installation command again. The server requires an active internet connection to communicate with Hacker News APIs, so verify your network connectivity by attempting to access https://news.ycombinator.com in your browser.

If you've configured the server through a JSON configuration file, review the settings to ensure the server path and any command-line arguments are correctly specified. Incorrect paths or typos in configuration files are common culprits for connection failures.

Check Server Status

Confirm the MCP server process is actually running. If you're using the server through an AI assistant like Claude Desktop, check the application logs to see if the server started successfully. Look for error messages during initialization that might indicate missing dependencies or permission issues.

The server should establish a connection within a few seconds of starting. If you see timeout errors, this suggests the server process isn't responding, which could indicate a crash during startup or resource constraints on your system.

Network and Firewall Issues

Corporate firewalls or network security tools can block the server's outbound connections to Hacker News APIs. If you're on a restricted network, verify that your firewall allows HTTPS connections to news.ycombinator.com and related Hacker News domains.

Some networks require proxy configuration. If your organization uses a proxy server, you may need to configure environment variables or system settings to route the MCP server's traffic through the proxy.

API Rate Limiting

While rare, Hacker News does implement rate limiting on its API. If you're making an unusually high number of requests, you might encounter temporary connection failures. If you suspect rate limiting, wait a few minutes before retrying. Design your queries to be efficient and avoid repeatedly requesting the same data.

Restart and Reconnect

Often, the simplest solution is the most effective. Completely shut down your AI assistant application, wait a few moments, and restart it. This ensures a fresh initialization of the MCP server and clears any temporary state issues.

Still Having Problems?

If connection issues persist after trying these steps, review the server logs for specific error messages. These often contain detailed information about what's failing and can guide you toward the specific problem—whether it's a configuration error, network issue, or software compatibility problem.