Search Lobste.rs curated tech news via x402 micropayment API
What it does
The `/scout/lobsters` endpoint is part of the Scout Multi-source Intelligence API hosted at scout.hugen.tokyo. It searches Lobste.rs, a community-driven, invitation-only link aggregator focused on curated technology news — similar to Hacker News but more tightly moderated. The endpoint accepts a query string and returns matching stories with titles, scores, comment counts, tags, and URLs. Results can be sorted by "hot" or "newest" and paginated up to 25 results per call.
This endpoint is one of 19+ source-specific search endpoints offered by the Scout API, which also provides aggregated multi-source reports and AI-synthesized deep research. The Lobsters endpoint costs $0.005 per call (paid in USDC on Base via the x402 protocol). Alternative access methods include a broker service (API key-based, no wallet needed), an MCP transport, and a Python SDK (`x402-pay`). The endpoint is live and returns a 402 payment challenge with a sample response showing result structure including title, score, comments, and tags.
Capabilities
Use cases
- —Searching Lobste.rs for curated discussions on specific programming topics
- —Monitoring community sentiment on new technologies via a tightly curated source
- —Feeding Lobste.rs results into multi-source intelligence pipelines
- —Agent-driven research that needs high-signal tech community content
Fit
Best for
- —AI agents needing programmatic access to Lobste.rs content
- —Developers building multi-source tech news aggregators
- —Researchers wanting curated, high-quality tech discussion data
Not for
- —General web search or non-technical topics
- —High-volume bulk scraping of Lobste.rs (rate limits and per-call cost apply)
- —Users who need free, unlimited access to Lobste.rs data
Quick start
curl -X GET "https://scout.hugen.tokyo/scout/lobsters?q=rust&per_page=5&sort=hot"Example
Request
{
"url": "https://scout.hugen.tokyo/scout/lobsters?q=rust&per_page=10&sort=hot",
"method": "GET"
}Response
{
"count": 1,
"query": "rust",
"source": "lobsters",
"results": [
{
"tags": [
"rust",
"programming"
],
"score": 45,
"title": "Rust async patterns",
"comments": 12
}
]
}Endpoint
Quality
Full OpenAPI schema with parameter details and a live 402 challenge including a sample response are available. Pricing is clearly documented at $0.005/call. Deducted points because no dedicated docs page exists, response schema is only inferrable from the sample in the 402 challenge, and no detailed field-level response documentation is provided.
Warnings
- —No dedicated documentation page found (/docs, /api, /pricing all return 404)
- —Response schema is inferred from the 402 challenge sample only — actual response fields may differ
- —The 402 challenge advertises $0.01 in its notice text but the OpenAPI spec says $0.005; actual price may vary
Citations
- —Endpoint searches Lobste.rs for curated tech news with query, per_page, and sort parametershttps://scout.hugen.tokyo
- —Scout API covers 19+ platforms including Reddit, Hacker News, GitHub, Stack Overflow, arXiv, npm, PyPI, X/Twitter, YouTube, Product Hunt, Dev.to, Qiita, Zenn, Semantic Scholar, GitLab, Hashnode, Lobsters, Lemmy, and x402 Bazaarhttps://scout.hugen.tokyo
- —Lobsters endpoint costs $0.005 per call according to OpenAPI spechttps://scout.hugen.tokyo
- —Payment is in USDC on Base via x402 protocolhttps://scout.hugen.tokyo
- —Alternative access via broker API key, MCP transport, or x402-pay Python SDKhttps://scout.hugen.tokyo