Understanding Common Connection Problems

Connection issues with the Hacker News MCP Server typically stem from network configuration, server availability, or initialization problems. If you're unable to establish a connection, first verify that your MCP client is properly configured and that the server process is running. Check your system logs for error messages that indicate whether the server started successfully or encountered issues during initialization.

Network connectivity is essential since the server communicates with Hacker News APIs. If you're behind a corporate firewall or using a VPN, ensure that outbound HTTPS connections are permitted. The server requires access to hacker-news.firebaseio.com to retrieve data, so any network restrictions blocking this domain will prevent proper operation.

API Rate Limiting and Timeouts

While Hacker News provides a generous public API, you may occasionally encounter rate limiting or timeout errors, especially when making rapid successive requests. If you receive timeout errors, try spacing out your requests or reducing the frequency of queries. The server is designed to handle standard usage patterns, but aggressive polling or bulk data retrieval may trigger temporary restrictions.

When API responses are slow or fail to return, it's often due to high load on Hacker News infrastructure rather than issues with the MCP server itself. In these cases, retry your request after a brief delay. Implementing a simple backoff strategy—waiting a few seconds before retrying—typically resolves transient API issues.

Data Retrieval Failures

If specific items (stories, comments, or user profiles) fail to load, verify that the item ID you're requesting actually exists. Hacker News items can be deleted or flagged, making them unavailable through the API. When this occurs, the server will return an appropriate error message indicating the item couldn't be found.

For missing or incomplete data, remember that not all Hacker News items contain every field. Stories without URLs (text posts), comments without children, or users with minimal profile information are normal variations. Ensure your application handles optional fields gracefully rather than expecting all data fields to be populated.

Authentication and Permission Issues

The Hacker News API is public and doesn't require authentication for read operations. If you encounter permission errors, they're likely related to your MCP client configuration rather than Hacker News access itself. Review your MCP server settings and ensure the server has been granted appropriate permissions within your MCP environment.

Debugging Tips

Enable verbose logging in your MCP client to capture detailed information about server interactions. This output helps identify whether issues originate from the server, the API, or your requests. When reporting problems, include relevant log excerpts, the specific query that failed, and any error messages received for faster resolution.