@abhishekmcp/github

@abhishekmcp/github

A GitHub MCP server: search, browse, and act on GitHub from any MCP client. Authenticates via OAuth device flow (real OAuth, no hosted callback) or a token. Pure JavaScript (@octokit/rest), no native dependencies.

GitHub ships an official, much larger MCP server. This is a focused, learning-oriented build that does auth/secrets handling cleanly.

Tools

Auth: github_login (device flow), github_logout, whoami Search: search_repos, search_code, search_issues Read: get_repo, list_issues, get_issue, list_pull_requests, get_pull_request, get_file_contents, list_notifications, rate_limit Write (omitted when GITHUB_READONLY=1): create_issue, add_issue_comment

Responses are trimmed to the useful fields to stay token-efficient.

Authentication

Resolved in this order (nothing is required at startup):

• Token — GITHUB_TOKEN (or GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN). A Personal Access Token; simplest path.
• Cached OAuth token — from a previous github_login, stored at ~/.config/mcp-github/auth.json (0600), auto-refreshed when possible.
• Otherwise tools return a clear "run github_login" message.

OAuth device flow (one-time setup)

Device flow needs a public OAuth-App client id (no secret):

• Create a GitHub OAuth App and enable Device Flow.
• export GITHUB_CLIENT_ID=<client id>.
• Run github_login → open the printed URL, enter the code, then run github_login again to finish.

Tokens are cached locally with 0600 permissions and are never logged.

Configuration

Variable	Effect
GITHUB_TOKEN / GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN	Use this PAT (skips OAuth).
GITHUB_CLIENT_ID	OAuth App client id for the device-flow login.
GITHUB_READONLY	1/true → only read + auth tools are registered.

Usage

# Claude Code (plugin):  /plugin marketplace add Abhishekkumar2021/mcp-suite  →  /plugin install github
# Claude Code (manual):
claude mcp add github --env GITHUB_TOKEN=<pat> -- npx -y @abhishekmcp/github

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@abhishekmcp/github"], "env": { "GITHUB_TOKEN": "<pat>" } }
  }
}

License

MIT