// MCP TOOL REFERENCE

GITHUB TOOLS

36 tools from the Github MCP Server, categorised by risk level.

View the Github policy → Token cost: 11,430 tokens →
// ALL 36 GITHUB TOOLS
READ 9 tools
Read discussion-list Lists GitHub Discussions for a repository via GraphQL. Returns structured list with discussion number, titl... Read label-list Lists repository labels. Returns structured data with label name, description, color, and default status. Read pr-checks Lists check/status results for a pull request. Returns structured data with check names, states, URLs, and ... Read pr-list Lists pull requests with optional filters. Returns structured list with PR number, state, title, author, br... Read pr-view Views a pull request by number, URL, or branch. Returns structured data with state, checks, review decision... Read release-list Lists GitHub releases for a repository. Returns structured list with tag, name, draft/prerelease/latest sta... Read repo-view Views repository details. Returns structured data with name, owner, description, stars, forks, languages, t... Read secret-list Lists repository, organization, or environment secret names and metadata. Secret values are not exposed by ... Read variable-list Lists repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variables with values and metadata.
WRITE 22 tools
Write api Makes arbitrary GitHub API calls via `gh api`. Supports all HTTP methods, request bodies, field parameters,... Write gist-create Creates a new GitHub gist from one or more files. Returns structured data with gist ID, URL, visibility, fi... Write issue-close Closes an issue with an optional comment and reason. Returns structured data with issue number, state, URL,... Write issue-comment Adds, edits, or deletes a comment on an issue. Returns structured data with the comment URL, operation type... Write issue-create Creates a new issue. Returns structured data with issue number, URL, and labels applied. Write issue-list Lists issues with optional filters. Returns structured list with issue number, state, title, labels, assign... Write issue-update Updates issue metadata (title, body, labels, assignees, milestone, projects). All fields except `number` ar... Write issue-view Views an issue by number or URL. Returns structured data with state, labels, assignees, author, milestone, ... Write label-create Creates a new repository label. Returns structured data with label name, description, color, and URL. Write pr-close Closes a pull request with an optional comment and optional branch deletion. Returns structured data with P... Write pr-comment Adds, edits, or deletes a comment on a pull request. Returns structured data with the comment URL, operatio... Write pr-create Creates a new pull request. Returns structured data with PR number and URL. Write pr-diff Returns file-level diff statistics for a pull request. Use full=true for patch/hunk content, or nameOnly=tr... Write pr-merge Merges a pull request by number, URL, or branch. Returns structured data with merge status, method, URL, an... Write pr-ready Marks a pull request as ready for review (or converts it back to draft when undo=true). Returns structured ... Write pr-reopen Reopens a previously closed pull request, optionally with a comment. Returns structured data with PR number... Write pr-review Submits a review on a pull request (approve, request-changes, or comment). Returns structured data with the... Write pr-update Updates pull request metadata (title, body, labels, assignees, reviewers, milestone, base branch, projects)... Write release-create Creates a new GitHub release with optional asset uploads. Returns structured data with tag, URL, draft, pre... Write repo-clone Clones a GitHub repository. Returns structured data with success status, repo name, target directory, and m... Write secret-set Sets a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions secret. Secret values are sent via stdin and... Write variable-set Sets a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variable. Variables are not secret and may b...
DESTRUCTIVE 2 tools
Destructive secret-delete Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions secret. Destructive variable-delete Deletes a repository, organization, or environment GitHub Actions variable.
EXECUTE 3 tools
Execute run-list Lists workflow runs with optional filters. Returns structured list with run ID, status, conclusion, and wor... Execute run-rerun Re-runs a workflow run by ID. Optionally re-runs only failed jobs or a specific job. Returns structured res... Execute run-view Views a workflow run by ID. Returns structured data with status, conclusion, jobs (with steps), and workflo...
// RUNNING THIS SERVER

The managed route: connect Github through the PolicyLayer gateway — every tool call above is checked against your policy before it runs, with a full audit log.

DIRECT INSTALL (UNMANAGED) npx -y @paretools/github
// FAQ
How many tools does the Github MCP server have? +

The Github MCP server exposes 36 tools across 4 categories: Read, Write, Destructive, Execute.

How do I enforce policies on Github tools? +

Route the Github server through the PolicyLayer gateway. Define allow, deny, or approval rules per tool in the dashboard — they are enforced on every call before it reaches the server.

What risk categories do Github tools fall into? +

Github tools are categorised as Read (9), Write (22), Destructive (2), Execute (3). Each category has a recommended default policy.

Let agents act without letting them run wild.

Route your MCP servers through PolicyLayer and every tool call is checked against your policy before it runs — allow, deny, or require approval. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes.

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