gh mcp server design

Integrating MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers with GitHub for test analysis involves several coordinated steps to enable AI-driven, automated workflows for CI/CD and test management. Here’s a structured overview of the process:

1. Set Up the GitHub MCP Server

Generate a GitHub Personal Access Token:
Create a token with the necessary repository and workflow permissions to allow the MCP server to interact with your GitHub data[4][3].
Launch the MCP Server:
The official GitHub MCP server can be started using Docker:
```
docker run -i --rm -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=<your-token> ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server
```
This server acts as a bridge between AI assistants and your GitHub repositories, exposing structured endpoints for repository, issue, and workflow data[4][3].

2. Configure Your Development Environment

IDE Integration:
Add the MCP server configuration to your IDE (such as VS Code) by editing the mcp.json file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run", "-i", "--rm", "-e", "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN", "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<your-token>"
      }
    }
  }
}

This enables direct interaction between your editor, the MCP server, and GitHub[4][1].

3. Connect an LLM or AI Assistant

Tool-Calling Support:
Use an LLM or AI assistant that supports MCP tool-calling (such as GitHub Copilot or Claude). Configure it to communicate with the MCP server, enabling it to request repository data, analyze test results, and automate workflows[5][3].

4. Enable Test Analysis Workflows

CI/CD Integration:
Connect the MCP server to your CI provider (e.g., GitHub Actions, CircleCI). Some MCP servers, like the CircleCI MCP Server, provide specialized tools for test log retrieval, flaky test identification, and build failure analysis[2].
Automated Test Analysis:
The AI assistant can now:
- Fetch and analyze build failure logs (get_build_failure_logs)
- Identify and report flaky or unreliable tests (find_flaky_tests)
- Retrieve detailed job and test results (get_job_test_results)
- Suggest or even apply fixes based on structured feedback[2].

5. Automate Issue and Pull Request Management

Issue Automation:
The MCP server enables automated creation, triage, and updating of GitHub issues based on test outcomes or CI failures[4][3].
Pull Request Insights:
AI assistants can review, comment on, and manage pull requests, providing actionable feedback and even merging or closing PRs as needed[4][1].

6. Security and Permissions

OAuth and Scoped Access:
The MCP server respects GitHub OAuth scopes and user identities, ensuring that all actions are performed securely and within the allowed permissions[5].

Summary Table: Key Steps

Step	Description
Set Up MCP Server	Generate token, launch server (e.g., Docker)
IDE Integration	Configure `mcp.json` for your development environment
Connect LLM/AI	Enable tool-calling for the AI assistant to interact with the MCP server
CI/Test Integration	Connect to CI provider, enable test log and result retrieval
Automate Workflows	AI-driven issue/PR management, test analysis, and fix suggestions
Security	Use OAuth and scoped tokens for secure, permissioned actions

By following these steps, you establish a robust integration between MCP servers and GitHub, allowing for automated, AI-powered test analysis and workflow optimization directly within your development environment[1][2][4][5].

Sources [1] Simplify Your GitHub Workflow with MCP Server Integration - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJSX0BeMH28 [2] CircleCI MCP server: Natural language CI for AI-driven workflows https://circleci.com/blog/circleci-mcp-server/ [3] How to Use GitHub MCP Server - Apidog https://apidog.com/blog/github-mcp-server/ [4] Top 9 MCP Servers for Git Tools in 2025: Boost Your Development ... https://apidog.com/blog/top-10-mcp-servers-for-git-tools/ [5] GitHub Launches Its Official MCP Server — A New Era for ... - LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/github-launches-its-official-mcp-server-new-era-llm-developer-yadav-vam0c [6] modelcontextprotocol/servers: Model Context Protocol ... - GitHub https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers [7] modelcontextprotocol/inspector: Visual testing tool for MCP servers https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector [8] awslabs/mcp: AWS MCP Servers - GitHub https://github.com/awslabs/mcp [9] How to Build Your Own MCP Server - InfraCloud https://www.infracloud.io/blogs/build-your-own-mcp-server/ [10] A simple Hello World MCP server for CI/CD test - GitHub https://github.com/lobehub/mcp-hello-world

kami619/gh-mcp.md