github-mcp-server MCP Server
Overview
GitHub's official MCP Server
From the project README: "The GitHub MCP Server connects AI tools directly to GitHub's platform. This gives AI agents, assistants, and chatbots the ability to read repositories and code files, manage issues and PRs, analyze code, and automate workflows. All through natural language interactions."
What it can do
The README lists these tools and features:
- Tools and toolsets can be used together
- Read-only mode takes priority: write tools are skipped if --read-only is set, even if explicitly requested via --tools
- Tool names must match exactly (e.g., get_file_contents, not getFileContents). Invalid tool names will cause the server to fail at startup with an error message
- When tools are renamed, old names are preserved as aliases for backward compatibility. See Tool Renaming for details.
- context
- repos
- issues
- pull_requests
- users
- : Toolset
- : context
- : actions
- : code_quality
- : code_security
- : copilot
- : copilot_issue_intents
- : dependabot
- : discussions
- : gists
- : git
- : governance
- : issues
- : labels
- : notifications
- : orgs
Install and configure
We did not find an install command in the project's README. Follow the instructions in the repository and review the code before you connect it to an AI client.
It also lists hosted endpoints of type: streamable-http.
Environment variables:
| Variable | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
GITHUB_PAT |
see README | - |
GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN |
see README | - |
GITHUB_TOOLSETS |
see README | - |
SINGLE_SELECT |
see README | - |
GITHUB_LOCKDOWN_MODE |
see README | - |
GITHUB_MCP_ |
see README | - |
TOOL_ADD_ISSUE_COMMENT_DESCRIPTION |
see README | - |
SERVER_NAME |
see README | - |
GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_NAME |
see README | - |
SERVER_TITLE |
see README | - |
Requirements
The README mentions setup for these clients: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Zed.
Limitations and things to check
Before you connect it:
- The README mentions: can run commands or code on your machine; reads or writes files; needs credentials or api keys.
- Read the code or the documentation of the tools it exposes, and note what each tool can do.
- Grant the smallest permissions you can: limit folders, API scopes and database roles.
- Keep credentials in environment variables or a secrets manager, never in a shared config file.
- Run it in a container or a separate user account if it can execute code or touch files.
Release history
The most recent releases published on GitHub:
- v2.0.3 (2026-10-21): ## What's Changed build(deps): bump @modelcontextprotocol/client from 2.2.0 to 2.3.1 in /ui by @dependabot[bot] in https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/pull/3462 build(deps-dev): bump @vitejs/plugin-react from 6.1.1 to 6.1.2 in /ui by @dependabot[bot] in…
- v2.0.2 (2026-10-08): ## Bugfix release fix(inventory): restore typed tool HTTP header validation by @SamMorrowDrums in https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/pull/3454 Full Changelog: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/compare/v2.0.1...v2.0.2
- v2.0.1 (2026-10-07): ## Bugfix Publish proper module path for Go library users. 55edd58d5e1127fe7ea3c036bc14dca66f7e41c4 fix(go)!: use the v2 module path for Go consumers (#3445)
Known issues and troubleshooting
These are the most discussed threads on the project's issue tracker. They show what other users ran into; read them before you install, and check whether they are still open.
- Non PAT auth method (closed, 49 comments)
- Remote: Incompatibility with Claude (Web) Integrations (closed, 40 comments)
Maintenance and community
The repository has 175 contributors, 759 commits in the last 12 months, 396 open issues and pull requests. It is maintained by GitHub, a GitHub organisation with 569 public repositories and 93,307 followers. GitHub's community checks found a security policy, contribution guidelines, a code of conduct.
Frequently asked questions
Is github-mcp-server free to use?
The repository is released under the MIT license.
When was github-mcp-server last updated?
The last commit was on 2026-10-30, and the project is marked active by our 12-month check.
Which AI clients does github-mcp-server work with?
Its README gives setup notes for Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Zed. Other MCP-compatible clients may also work, but the project does not say so.
Sources
This page combines data from:
- github-mcp-server on GitHub
- Add MCP servers in VS Code
- Official MCP Registry entry (registry.modelcontextprotocol.io)
Security snapshot
- Can run commands or code on your machine
- Reads or writes files
- Needs credentials or API keys
Automated checks on public data, last run Oct 31, 2026. This is not a security audit. Read the code and decide which permissions to grant before you connect any MCP server.