# Hacker News Scraper (`supermiojo/hacker-news-scraper`) Actor Scrape top, new, best, Ask HN, Show HN, and job stories from Hacker News via the official Firebase API. Filter by score and comments. Optional comment extraction. No API key or auth needed. - **URL**: https://apify.com/supermiojo/hacker-news-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Igor Araujo](https://apify.com/supermiojo) (community) - **Categories:** Automation, News, Developer tools - **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.10 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Hacker News Scraper 🟠 Scrape stories from Hacker News via the official Firebase API — no API key, no blocking, no auth required. Pull top, new, best, Ask HN, Show HN, and job listings with full metadata. ### Features - 🔥 **All HN sections** — top, new, best, ask, show, job - 📊 **Smart filtering** — filter by minimum score and comment count - 💬 **Optional comments** — fetch top-level comments with discussion context - ⚡ **Parallel fetching** — 20 concurrent requests, fast even on large runs - 🕐 **ISO 8601 timestamps** — UTC, machine-readable - 💰 **Free data source** — HN Firebase API is 100% public, no rate limits ### Input | Parameter | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `section` | enum | top | Story section: top, new, best, ask, show, job | | `maxItems` | integer | 100 | Max stories (1–500) | | `minScore` | integer | 0 | Minimum score filter | | `minComments` | integer | 0 | Minimum comments filter | | `fetchComments` | boolean | false | Include top-level comments | ### Output Each result: | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `id` | number | HN story ID | | `title` | string | Story title | | `url` | string | External URL (article link) | | `hnUrl` | string | HN discussion link | | `score` | number | Upvote count | | `comments` | number | Comment count | | `author` | string | Submitter username | | `time` | string | ISO 8601 timestamp (UTC) | | `type` | string | Item type | | `section` | string | HN section used | | `scrapedAt` | string | When the scrape ran | | `topComments` | array | Top-level comments (optional) | ### Use Cases - **Content curation** — find top articles for newsletters and blogs - **Trend detection** — track emerging tech topics before they go mainstream - **Competitive monitoring** — watch competitor mentions and launches - **Market research** — understand what developers and founders care about - **AI training data** — high-quality tech discussions for fine-tuning ### Pricing Pay-per-result. No API key required — HN's Firebase API is free and public. # Actor input Schema ## `section` (type: `string`): Which Hacker News feed to scrape. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of stories to return (1-500). ## `minScore` (type: `integer`): Only return stories with at least this many points. Set to 0 for all. ## `minComments` (type: `integer`): Only return stories with at least this many comments. Set to 0 for all. ## `fetchComments` (type: `boolean`): Also fetch top-level comments for each story. ## Actor input object example ```json { "section": "top", "maxItems": 100, "minScore": 0, "minComments": 0, "fetchComments": false } ```` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("supermiojo/hacker-news-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("supermiojo/hacker-news-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{}' | apify call supermiojo/hacker-news-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=supermiojo/hacker-news-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Hacker News Scraper", "description": "Scrape top, new, best, Ask HN, Show HN, and job stories from Hacker News via the official Firebase API. Filter by score and comments. Optional comment extraction. No API key or auth needed.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "OVZo0JQ41tCapzSPR" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/supermiojo~hacker-news-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-supermiojo-hacker-news-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/supermiojo~hacker-news-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-supermiojo-hacker-news-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/supermiojo~hacker-news-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-supermiojo-hacker-news-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "section": { "title": "Story Section", "enum": [ "top", "new", "best", "ask", "show", "job" ], "type": "string", "description": "Which Hacker News feed to scrape.", "default": "top" }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 500, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of stories to return (1-500).", "default": 100 }, "minScore": { "title": "Minimum Score", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Only return stories with at least this many points. Set to 0 for all.", "default": 0 }, "minComments": { "title": "Minimum Comments", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Only return stories with at least this many comments. Set to 0 for all.", "default": 0 }, "fetchComments": { "title": "Fetch Top-Level Comments", "type": "boolean", "description": "Also fetch top-level comments for each story.", "default": false } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```