GitHub

This MCP server provides tools to interact with GitHub’s API, enabling you to create repositories with descriptive metadata, add topics, set homepages, and auto-initialize README files from natural language commands. It empowers you to automate repository provisioning and maintenance directly from your MCP client.

How to use

You integrate this MCP server with your MCP client to manage GitHub repositories through natural language commands. You can create new repositories using descriptive phrases, attach relevant topics, set a homepage URL, and ensure a README is created automatically. You can also update existing repositories to modify their description, topics, or website.

Typical workflows include creating a repository from a description, adding tags, and setting a homepage in a single command. You can also update the description, topics, or homepage of an existing repository by referencing the owner/repo. Use plain language phrases to describe your intent, and the server will translate them into the appropriate GitHub API actions.

How to install

Prerequisites: you need Node.js installed on your machine. Install Node.js from the official source for your operating system if it is not already present.

Step 1. Clone the server module to your machine.

Step 2. Install dependencies.

npm install

Step 3. Build the server.

npm run build

Step 4. Start the server. Use the runtime command shown in your configuration to execute the built index. For example, you would run node path/to/github-server/build/index.js to start listening for MCP requests.

Configuration and run details

Configure the MCP client to connect to the GitHub MCP server using a local stdio setup. You must supply a GitHub personal access token with repository creation permissions.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["path/to/github-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_TOKEN": "your-github-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration example and token

The following is an example you can place in your MCP settings to connect to the GitHub MCP server. It uses a local Node runtime to execute the built server index and passes the required GitHub token.

Notes on security and usage

Keep your GitHub token secure. Do not commit tokens to source control. Restrict token permissions to repository creation only if you do not need other actions.

Troubleshooting tips

If you encounter connection issues, verify that the path to the built index.js file is correct and that the GITHUB_TOKEN environment variable is set with a valid token. Check network access if you are running the server behind a proxy or firewall.

Available tools

create_repo

Create or update GitHub repositories using natural language commands. Supports creating repositories from descriptions, updating descriptions, topics, and website, and initializing with a README.