MCP Server

Hacker News MCP Server

Local serverstdioTypeScript

What is the MCP MCP server?

Connect MCP to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. Hacker News MCP Server. The mcp mcp server is what makes that connection.

What the server does

It enables these tools to fetch and interact with live Hacker News data (posts, comments, users) via standardized MCP endpoints.

  • Integrates with the official Hacker News API to fetch posts, comments, and user information
  • Exposes standard Model Context Protocol endpoints for seamless integration with Claude, Cursor, and other LLM-based tools
  • Fetches the latest Hacker News data for AI and automation workflows

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • getTopStories — Fetch top stories (customizable limit)
  • getBestStories — Fetch best stories (customizable limit)
  • getNewStories — Fetch newest stories (customizable limit)
  • getAskHNStories — Fetch "Ask HN" posts
  • getShowHNStories — Fetch "Show HN" posts
  • getJobStories — Fetch job postings
  • getItem — Retrieve a specific item (story, comment, etc.)
  • getUser — Retrieve a user profile by username
  • getComments — Fetch comments for a specific item
  • getMaxItemId — Get the current maximum item ID
  • getUpdates — Fetch recently updated items and profiles
  • Requirements — The Requirements tool exposed by this server

Installation

@modelcontextprotocol/inspector on npm is all you need. Most clients run it directly, so configuration is a few lines and a restart.

Credentials and setup notes

  • Node.js version 18 or higher is required. - npm or pnpm as a package manager. > ⚠️ If you are unsure about your Node.js version, run node --version in your terminal. > Make sure it shows v18.x.x or higher. > How to upgrade Node.js ---

Where it fits

Among the AI and media services options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. MCP's toolset — getTopStories, getBestStories, getNewStories and 9 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by pablolc; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Worth knowing first

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 12 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch MCP.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
getTopStoriesFetch top stories (customizable limit)
getBestStoriesFetch best stories (customizable limit)
getNewStoriesFetch newest stories (customizable limit)
getAskHNStoriesFetch "Ask HN" posts
getShowHNStoriesFetch "Show HN" posts
getJobStoriesFetch job postings
getItemRetrieve a specific item (story, comment, etc.)
getUserRetrieve a user profile by username
getCommentsFetch comments for a specific item
getMaxItemIdGet the current maximum item ID
getUpdatesFetch recently updated items and profiles
RequirementsThe Requirements tool exposed by this server.

How to install the MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-hacker-news": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-hacker-news"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

  • Node.js version 18 or higher is required. - npm or pnpm as a package manager. > ⚠️ If you are unsure about your Node.js version, run node --version in your terminal. > Make sure it shows v18.x.x or higher. > How to upgrade Node.js ---

Example prompts to try

  • Use MCP to getTopStories.
  • Use MCP to getBestStories.
  • Use MCP to getNewStories.

Frequently asked questions

It connects MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 12 tools (getTopStories, getBestStories, getNewStories, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with MCP directly.