Available Toolsets

Toolset	What It Does
`repos`	Browse files, search code, manage branches, create commits
`issues`	Create, update, comment on issues
`pull_requests`	Open PRs, request reviews, merge
`actions`	List workflows, trigger runs, get job logs
`code_security`	Code scanning alerts, secret detection
`dependabot`	Dependency vulnerability alerts
`discussions`	Access GitHub Discussions
`notifications`	Manage notification inbox
`projects`	GitHub Projects board operations

Default: repos, issues, pull_requests, users, context

Enable all: Set GITHUB_TOOLSETS="all"

Configuration Examples

Claude Code (.mcp.json with PAT)

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

Select specific toolsets

docker run -i --rm   -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=your_token   -e GITHUB_TOOLSETS="repos,issues,pull_requests,actions"   ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

Read-only mode

docker run -i --rm   -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=your_token   -e GITHUB_READ_ONLY=1   ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

Key Tools

get_file_contents — Read any file or directory
search_code — Search across repositories
create_or_update_file — Commit file changes
create_pull_request / merge_pull_request — PR lifecycle
issue_read / issue_write — Issue management
get_job_logs — CI/CD debugging

Authentication

Create a PAT at github.com/settings/personal-access-tokens/new. Recommended scopes: repo, read:packages, read:org.

GitHub MCP Server

Use it first, then decide how deep to go

Available Toolsets

Configuration Examples

Claude Code (.mcp.json with PAT)

Select specific toolsets

Read-only mode

Key Tools

Authentication

Related Assets

Claude Code Templates

MCP Reference Servers — Official Collection

Cursor Rules MDC Generator