True LLMs / Version control

GitHub MCP Server

GitHub's official MCP server. Connects AI tools to GitHub's platform to read repositories and code, manage issues and PRs, analyze code, and automate workflows.

Data verified Aug 24, 2026

01 / Source

Author

GitHub

Repository stars

32.6K

Repo last pushed

Aug 28, 2026

githubissuespull-requestsci-cd

02 / Setup

Auth

GitHub Personal Access Token (classic, scope-filtered) or OAuth

Environment variables

GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN

Config (mcpServers block)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e",
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

From the server's own docs — the exact command and args it documents for local/stdio use.

03 / Permissions

What installing this server actually grants access to, as documented by its own source — not True LLMs' assessment.

RepositoriesRead / Write
IssuesRead / Write
Pull requestsRead / Write
GitHub ActionsRead
Code security alertsRead

From the source's own docs

  • Available tools are controlled via --toolsets (e.g. repos, issues, pull_requests, actions, code_security) — enable only what you need.
  • A --read-only flag disables all write tools, and takes priority even if a write tool is explicitly requested.
  • Classic PATs (ghp_ prefix) have their available tools filtered at startup based on the token's own OAuth scopes.

04 / Compatibility

Scope: compatibility below is what each skill's own source states, not an independent test — True LLMs hasn't run these against live agents yet. Marked confirmed by source where the repo says so, untested everywhere else.

Confirmed by source
5 of 8
Fact
Claude Code✓ confirmed
Claude.ai✓ confirmed
Codexuntested
Command Codeuntested
Cursor✓ confirmed
OpenCodeuntested
Windsurf✓ confirmed
GitHub Copilot✓ confirmed
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