GitHub Releases MCP Server

What is GitHub Releases MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for accessing, comparing, and analyzing GitHub repository releases. It offers detailed release information, version comparison, and release listing with filtering, all with rich emoji-enhanced formatting. Designed for developers using MCP clients who need to manage or inspect GitHub releases.

How to use GitHub Releases MCP Server?

Install and run via npx: GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=your_token npx @slinerodev/github-releases-mcp. Alternatively, configure it in your MCP client’s config file (Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop, or Windsurf) using the published npm package or a local development version. The server exposes three tools: github_release_info, github_releases_compare, and github_releases_list.

Key features of GitHub Releases MCP Server

• Detailed release information for specific versions
• Version comparison between any two releases
• Release listing with configurable limits and pre-release filtering
• Supports semantic version formats (v1.0.0, @1.0.0, 1.0.0)
• Rich emoji-enhanced output for readability
• Pagination support for repositories with many releases
• Optional GitHub token authentication for private repos and higher rate limits

Use cases of GitHub Releases MCP Server

• Understanding what changed in a specific release version
• Generating changelogs between two versions
• Creating migration guides and analyzing breaking changes
• Reviewing a project’s release history and finding the latest version
• Monitoring release frequency and tracking pre-releases

FAQ from GitHub Releases MCP Server

What is the GitHub token used for?

The token is optional. If provided, it authenticates API requests, allowing access to private repositories and higher API rate limits.

Which MCP clients are supported?

The server works with Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop, and Windsurf. Configuration files vary per client; for example, VS Code uses .vscode/settings.json with mcp.servers instead of mcpServers.

What tools does the server provide?

Three tools: github_release_info (details of a specific version), github_releases_compare (differences between two versions), and github_releases_list (formatted list of releases with filtering).

How does the server handle errors?

It gracefully handles invalid repository names, non-existent versions, invalid version formats, API rate limits, network issues, and authentication errors, returning clear error messages.

Is authentication required to use the server?

No. The GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN environment variable is optional. Without it, you can still access public repositories.