ActiveGitHub MCP Server
MCP server for the GitHub API — manage repos, PRs, issues, and more through natural language.
Quick Answer
- 1. GitHub MCP Server gives AI agents developer tools capabilities with 28,000 GitHub stars and a quality score of 95/99.
- 2. Install: Run
npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-githubor add the config to your MCP client. - 3. Runtime: npm — requires an API key.
- 4. Health: Actively maintained — last checked 7/29/2026.
Overview
Category: Developer Tools
Runtime: npm
Install: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github
Auth: API key required
Source: official
Stars: 28,000
Setup time: ~2 min (API key needed)
What You Can Build
With the GitHub MCP Server MCP server, your AI assistant can:
- Access developer tools functionality through natural language
- Securely use your API credentials for authenticated operations
- Combine with other MCP servers for cross-tool automation workflows
- Run with npm for reliable, consistent deployments
Health Status
ActiveLast commit: 7/20/2026
Checked: 7/29/2026
Page updated: June 13, 2026
Read the Guide
Step-by-step walkthrough for setting up and using the GitHub MCP Server.
GitHub MCP ServerSetup Guide →One-Click Install
Copy the snippet for your MCP client and paste it in.
Claude Desktop
Add to claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"github-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"
],
"env": {
"API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
}
}
}
}Cursor
Settings → MCP Servers → Add
{
"mcpServers": {
"github-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github"
}
}
}Saves as .cursor/mcp.json in the download. Move it to your project root.
VS Code
Use with MCP extension
{
"mcpServers": {
"github-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github"
}
}
}SDK & Code Integration Examples
Connect to GitHub MCP Server programmatically using TypeScript or Python MCP SDKs.
import { Client } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/index.js";
import { StdioClientTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/stdio.js";
// Initialize GitHub MCP Server MCP client transport
const transport = new StdioClientTransport({
command: "npx",
args: ["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
env: { API_KEY: process.env.API_KEY || "your-api-key-here" }
});
const client = new Client(
{ name: "mcp-app-client", version: "1.0.0" },
{ capabilities: { tools: {} } }
);
async function connectAndRun() {
await client.connect(transport);
const tools = await client.listTools();
console.log("Connected to GitHub MCP Server. Available tools:", tools);
}
connectAndRun().catch(console.error);MCP Server Configuration
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"github-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y","@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
"env": {
"API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
}
}
}
}Topics
Error Resolution & Troubleshooting Matrix
Common JSON-RPC protocol error codes and environment troubleshooting for GitHub MCP Server.
-32600 (Invalid Request)Cause: Malformed JSON-RPC payload sent to server
Resolution: Verify MCP client payload adheres to JSON-RPC 2.0 specs.
-32601 (Method Not Found)Cause: Requested tool or resource method does not exist
Resolution: Call list_tools() to inspect supported tool names.
-32602 (Invalid Params)Cause: Missing or invalid tool arguments
Resolution: Check argument schema types against tool definition.
-32603 (Internal Error)Cause: Unhandled execution exception inside server process
Resolution: Inspect process stderr logs or check API key credentials.
AUTH_KEY_MISSINGCause: Required environment variable not set in MCP config
Resolution: Define required API key under 'env' object in claude_desktop_config.json.
STDIO_PIPE_CLOSEDCause: Server process crashed on startup
Resolution: Run install command manually in terminal to inspect error output.
Quality Score
Automated quality ranking of maintaining source repository.
This listing is verified by the server owner.
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