GitHub

What it is

An MCP server for the GitHub API that supports file operations, repository management, and search. It exposes 26 tools covering files, branches, issues, pull requests, commits and code/issue/user search. The README carries a deprecation notice stating that development has moved to the github/github-mcp-server repository.

Who it's for

• Developers who want an MCP client such as Claude Desktop or VS Code to manage GitHub repositories, issues and pull requests
• Users maintaining an existing setup based on the archived server (@modelcontextprotocol/server-github or mcp/github)

Requirements

Setup

1. Create a Personal Access Token

   Create a GitHub Personal Access Token in Settings > Developer settings > Personal access tokens. Choose the repositories it can access, give it the repo scope (or public_repo for public repositories only), and copy the token.

2. Claude Desktop with NPX

   Add this to claude_desktop_config.json, replacing <YOUR_TOKEN> with your token.

   jsonCopy

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "github": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": [
           "-y",
           "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"
         ],
         "env": {
           "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_TOKEN>"
         }
       }
     }
   }

3. Claude Desktop with Docker

   Alternatively, run the server through Docker using the mcp/github image.

   jsonCopy

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "github": {
         "command": "docker",
         "args": [
           "run",
           "-i",
           "--rm",
           "-e",
           "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
           "mcp/github"
         ],
         "env": {
           "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_TOKEN>"
         }
       }
     }
   }

4. VS Code with NPX

   Add this to your User Settings (JSON), opened via Ctrl + Shift + P and 'Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)'. It can also go in .vscode/mcp.json, where the mcp key is not needed.

   jsonCopy

   {
     "mcp": {
       "inputs": [
         {
           "type": "promptString",
           "id": "github_token",
           "description": "GitHub Personal Access Token",
           "password": true
         }
       ],
       "servers": {
         "github": {
           "command": "npx",
           "args": [
             "-y",
             "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"
           ],
           "env": {
             "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${input:github_token}"
           }
         }
       }
     }
   }

5. Build the Docker image (optional)

   Build the image locally from the repository.

   bashCopy

   docker build -t mcp/github -f src/github/Dockerfile .

Examples

q: "import express" language:typescript path:src/

q: "memory leak" is:issue is:open label:bug

q: "fullstack developer" location:London followers:>100

Pros & cons

Images