What Are User Profiles?

Hacker News user profiles contain valuable information about community members, including their submission history, comments, karma score, and optional biographical details. Looking up user profiles helps you research individual contributors, identify subject matter experts, or understand the background of someone whose comment or submission caught your attention.

How to Look Up a User Profile

Looking up a Hacker News user profile through your MCP-enabled assistant is straightforward. Simply ask your AI assistant to retrieve information about a specific user by their username. For example:

• "Show me the profile for user pg"
• "What's the karma score for user tptacek?"
• "Get information about the Hacker News user danw"

The server will retrieve the user's public profile information and present it in an easy-to-read format.

What Information You'll See

When you look up a user profile, you'll typically receive:

• Username: The user's Hacker News handle
• Karma: Their total karma score, accumulated through upvotes on submissions and comments
• Account Age: When the user created their account
• About Section: Biographical information if the user has chosen to share it
• Submission History: Links to stories and comments they've posted

This information helps you understand a user's level of engagement with the community and their areas of expertise.

Common Use Cases

Identifying Experts: When you encounter insightful comments on technical topics, checking the commenter's profile can reveal whether they're a recognized expert with a history of valuable contributions.

Research: If you're investigating a particular technology or company, reviewing profiles of users who frequently discuss these topics can lead you to knowledgeable sources.

Context: Understanding a user's background and posting history provides context for their comments and submissions, helping you evaluate the perspective they bring to discussions.

Community Engagement: For those building a presence on Hacker News, reviewing successful users' profiles can offer insights into effective community participation.

Tips for Effective Profile Research

Focus on users with substantial karma and account history, as they're typically established community members. Pay attention to the "about" section, which often contains professional information or contact details. Review recent comment history to understand current interests and expertise areas.