# github_get_file

Read a file from a remote repo without cloning.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `github_get_file`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-file

## Facts

- Tool: `github_get_file`
- Server: Github (`dkeeno/github-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/dkeeno/github-mcp-server
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "github_get_file",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why github_get_file is rated Low

This tool retrieves file contents from a GitHub repository, a read-only operation with no side effects. It does not modify data, execute code, delete resources, or affect financial systems. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—the worst outcome would be unauthorized access to repository contents already subject to GitHub's access controls.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description explicitly states 'Read a file from a remote repo without cloning' - a straightforward data retrieval operation with no modification, deletion, or execution capabilities."

## Use case

AI agents call github_get_file to retrieve information from Github without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Github:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "github_get_file": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Github (68)

- `github_delete_repo` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-delete-repo.md
- `github_delete_secret` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-delete-secret.md
- `github_remove_branch_protection` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-remove-branch-protection.md
- `github_cancel_workflow_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-cancel-workflow-run.md
- `github_rerun_workflow` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-rerun-workflow.md
- `github_trigger_workflow` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-trigger-workflow.md
- `github_transfer_repo` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-transfer-repo.md
- `github_analyze_workflow_failure` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-analyze-workflow-failure.md
- `github_audit_repo` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-audit-repo.md
- `github_check_token_scopes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-check-token-scopes.md
- `github_get_branch_protection` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-branch-protection.md
- `github_get_issue` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-issue.md
- `github_get_pr` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-pr.md
- `github_get_profile_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-profile-stats.md
- `github_get_repo` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-repo.md
- `github_get_repo_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-repo-stats.md
- `github_get_traffic` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-traffic.md
- `github_get_user` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-user.md
- `github_get_workflow_logs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-workflow-logs.md
- `github_get_workflow_run` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-get-workflow-run.md
- `github_list_issues` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-issues.md
- `github_list_prs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-prs.md
- `github_list_releases` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-releases.md
- `github_list_repos` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-repos.md
- `github_list_secrets` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-secrets.md
- `github_list_security_alerts` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-security-alerts.md
- `github_list_stargazers` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-stargazers.md
- `github_list_variables` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-variables.md
- `github_list_workflow_runs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-workflow-runs.md
- `github_list_workflows` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server/github-list-workflows.md
- …and 38 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/dkeeno-github-mcp-server.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=dkeeno-github-mcp-server · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/dkeeno-github-mcp-server