GitHub MCP Server

What is GitHub MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for GitHub, implemented in Go. It allows LLMs to interact with GitHub repositories, issues, pull requests, and other resources through a standardized interface, making it suitable for AI assistants and automation tools.

How to use GitHub MCP Server?

Install a pre-built binary or build from source (Go 1.23+). Set the GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN environment variable. Run ./github-mcp-go setup to automatically configure the server for Cline or Claude Desktop, optionally with --write-access and --auto-approve flags. Then run ./github-mcp-go serve (or serve --write-access) to start the server.

Key features of GitHub MCP Server

• Comprehensive GitHub API access via 40+ tools
• One‑command setup for Cline and Claude Desktop
• Write access disabled by default for safety
• Fine‑grained auto‑approval of tools
• Pre‑built binaries for Linux, macOS, and Windows

Use cases of GitHub MCP Server

• Search repositories and retrieve file contents
• Create, update, and comment on issues
• Manage pull requests, branches, and commits
• Trigger and inspect GitHub Actions workflows
• Fork repositories and push multiple files in a single commit

FAQ from GitHub MCP Server

What is required to use this server?

A GitHub Personal Access Token, a pre‑built binary or Go 1.23+ to build from source, and an MCP‑compatible AI assistant (e.g., Cline, Claude Desktop).

How do I enable write access?

Write access is disabled by default. Pass the --write-access flag to serve or to setup to allow tools that modify remote repositories.

Can I auto‑approve specific tools?

Yes. Use the --auto-approve flag with a comma‑separated list of tool names, or the special value allow-read-only to auto‑approve all read‑only tools.

Which platforms are supported?

Pre‑built binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, each with both amd64 and arm64 architectures.

How do I set up the server for an AI assistant?

Run ./github-mcp-go setup --tool cline or --tool claude-desktop. The command copies the binary to a stable location and updates the assistant’s MCP configuration.