What is the Hacker News MCP Server?

The Hacker News MCP Server connects your AI assistant to Hacker News, one of technology's most influential discussion platforms. Through this server, you can retrieve stories, comments, and user profiles without manually browsing the site or writing custom code. It's designed to bring Hacker News data directly into your conversations and workflows.

Setting Up Your Connection

Before you begin, ensure the Hacker News MCP Server is installed and configured in your MCP-compatible application. Once configured, the server runs in the background, ready to handle your requests. No API keys or authentication are required—the server connects directly to Hacker News's public API.

Basic Usage

Browsing Stories

Start by asking your AI assistant for current Hacker News content. You can request:

• Top stories: The most upvoted submissions currently on the front page
• New stories: Recent submissions as they arrive
• Best stories: High-quality posts that have demonstrated lasting value

Simply ask something like "Show me the top stories on Hacker News" or "What are the latest new submissions?" The server retrieves the data and presents it in an easy-to-read format.

Reading Comments

Hacker News discussions often contain insights as valuable as the articles themselves. Ask your assistant to retrieve comments for any story by referencing the story or providing its ID. You can explore entire comment threads, understanding the conversation flow and community perspectives on specific topics.

Researching Users

Every Hacker News contributor has a public profile. You can request information about specific users to see their submission history, comments, karma score, and bio. This is useful for identifying subject matter experts or tracking thought leaders in particular domains.

Practical Applications

Stay Informed: Track breaking tech news and trending discussions as they happen. Ask for regular updates on topics that matter to your work.

Research and Analysis: Gather community perspectives on technologies, products, or companies. The technical depth of Hacker News discussions makes it invaluable for informed decision-making.

Content Discovery: Find high-quality articles and resources that have been vetted by the community's voting system.

Tips for Effective Use

Be specific in your requests. Instead of "What's on Hacker News?", try "Show me top stories about artificial intelligence" or "What are people saying about the latest Python release?" The more context you provide, the better your assistant can filter and present relevant information.

The server provides real-time access, so the data you receive is always current. This makes it ideal for monitoring ongoing discussions or catching emerging trends as they develop.