# GitHub

Wires your AI agent into GitHub: read code, open issues and pull requests, watch Actions runs. Saves a trip to the browser.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed · ★ 33918
- Author: github · official GitHub repository
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
- Updated: 2026-10-23
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github

## What it does

The server gives an agent access to repositories you already have rights to: browsing and searching code, reading commits, mapping project structure. It also creates and updates issues and pull requests, and reports on GitHub Actions runs, failed builds and releases. Security findings and Dependabot alerts come through the same channel.

Two ways to run it. The remote server is hosted by GitHub at `https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/` and authenticates with OAuth or a personal access token. The local one runs in a container: `docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3`. Remote needs a host that speaks remote MCP and OAuth; local needs Docker. If your host can't do remote MCP servers, the local build is the fallback.

Toolsets are configurable, and default toolsets apply until you name your own. An insiders mode exposes experimental tools early, switched on through a URL path or a header. One thing to plan for: each host application has to register a GitHub App or OAuth App for remote access, and support levels differ between hosts, so check that host's own docs.

## Requirements
- Needs: Docker
- Remote server: `https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/`
- Works with: GitHub

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
claude mcp add --transport http github-mcp-server https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add github -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3
```

### Codex

1. **Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
codex mcp add github --url https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add github -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "github": {
            "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
        }
    }
}
```
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "github": {
            "command": "docker",
            "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "github": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
        }
    }
}
```
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "github": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "docker",
            "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

1. **Platform CLI: remote server**
```bash
gemini mcp add -t http github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add github docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:2.0.3
```

## When to use it
- read through an unfamiliar repository and map its structure
- file an issue or open a pull request without leaving the chat
- figure out why a GitHub Actions run failed
- review Dependabot alerts and security findings
- summarise commits and team activity across repos

## Example prompts
- Show me the structure of `github/github-mcp-server` and find where toolsets are handled
- Open an issue in my repo: the test step keeps failing
- Check the latest GitHub Actions runs on `main` and tell me what broke

## Similar
- [github-copilot-starter](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/github-copilot-starter.md) — skill · 8900 installs
- [oauth](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/oauth.md) — skill · 3000 installs
- [ruflo](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/ruflo.md) — skill · 4000 installs
- [voicestudio-maintainer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/voicestudio-maintainer.md) — skill · 827 installs
- [GitDiagram](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/gitdiagram.md) — MCP server · ★ 18446

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md