The official GitHub MCP Server: let agents read issues, PRs, Actions — and scope permissions properly
TL;DR
github/github-mcp-server lets agents work with repos, issues, PRs, Actions and code security. Use the remote server at https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ or run Docker with a PAT. Enable only the toolsets you need (--toolsets) and use --read-only when the agent only reads.
Add to Claude Code (Docker)
claude mcp add github -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=$GITHUB_PAT -- \
docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-serverScoping it down
| Method | Example | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Toolsets | --toolsets repos,issues,pull_requests | Fewer tools → better tool choice, less context |
| Individual tools | --tools get_gist | Add exactly the one tool you need |
| Read-only | --read-only | Drops every write tool, even if requested |
| Minimal PAT | Fine-grained token, only needed repos | Limits damage if abused |
Team use cases
- “Summarize PRs open for more than 3 days and who's blocking review.”
- “List bug-labeled issues created this sprint, grouped by component.”
- “Why did yesterday's CI workflow fail?” — reading Actions logs.
Repo: github/github-mcp-server