GitLab MCP Server

What is GitLab MCP Server?

GitLab MCP Server is an MCP-compatible server that acts as a bridge between AI applications and your GitLab instance. It provides a standardized set of tools (API endpoints) so language models and AI agents can securely access and modify repositories, issues, merge requests, wikis, and other project resources on GitLab. Designed with flexibility, security, and extensibility in mind, it supports both read-only and full access modes and can be deployed in your own environment.

How to Configure

To configure GitLab MCP Server, define the server in your application's configuration (such as in Claude App, Cline, Roo Code, or Cursor) by specifying the command, arguments, and required environment variables:

• GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN: Your personal GitLab access token for authentication.
• GITLAB_API_URL: API endpoint for your GitLab instance (default: https://gitlab.com/api/v4).
• GITLAB_READ_ONLY_MODE: Set to 'true' to restrict operations to read-only; 'false' for full access.
• USE_GITLAB_WIKI: Set to 'true' to enable wiki page tools.

Example configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "GitLab communication server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@zereight/mcp-gitlab"],
      "env": {
        "GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your_gitlab_token",
        "GITLAB_API_URL": "your_gitlab_api_url",
        "GITLAB_READ_ONLY_MODE": "false",
        "USE_GITLAB_WIKI":"true"
      }
    }
  }
}

How to Use

1. Start the GitLab MCP Server with your chosen configuration.
2. Connect AI-powered apps (such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) to the server through the MCP protocol.
3. The LLM or client can discover available tools via the tools/list endpoint and invoke specific functions using the tools/call endpoint.
4. Depending on your permissions and configuration, you can read, create, update, or delete a wide range of GitLab resources directly from your LLM-powered workflows.

Key Features

• Extensive set of GitLab tools: Over 40 functions supporting repositories, issues, merge requests, labels, namespaces, wikis, and more.
• Read-only mode for enhanced security or audit situations.
• Wiki management tools can be enabled or disabled as needed.
• Can be self-hosted and works with both public GitLab and custom/self-managed GitLab instances.
• Easy integration with leading AI development tools and LLMs via the MCP standard.
• Environment-variable driven configuration for secure deployments.

Use Cases

• Automating repository management and code review tasks from an AI-powered IDE.
• Writing, updating, or summarizing issues and merge requests using an LLM agent.
• Creating, editing, and organizing GitLab wikis through natural language interfaces.
• Rapid onboarding and administration of projects, namespaces, and labels via conversational AI.
• Secure, audit-friendly interactions with corporate GitLab instances without exposing your internal API keys.

FAQ

Q1: Can I limit what tools are available to AI agents or set the server to read-only?
Yes. By setting GITLAB_READ_ONLY_MODE to 'true', only read operations are exposed, preventing AI agents from making changes.

Q2: Is it safe to use my personal access token in the configuration?
The server should be run in a secure environment. Limit token permissions and consider using read-only mode for non-critical interactions.

Q3: Do I need to enable wiki features if I only want to manage code and issues?
No. Wiki-related tools are disabled by default—activate them by setting USE_GITLAB_WIKI to 'true' only if you need wiki functionality.

Q4: Does this work with GitLab self-managed instances?
Yes! Specify your custom API URL via GITLAB_API_URL to connect to self-hosted or enterprise GitLab installations.

Q5: What are the main differences compared to the original GitLab MCP server?
This version includes bug fixes, usability improvements, and additional features like wiki support, read-only mode, and enhanced toolset.