{"slug": "what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server", "title": "What is MCP? Trying Out GitHub MCP Server", "summary": "A developer tested GitHub's official GitHub MCP Server, wiring it into VS Code via a .vscode/mcp.json config that runs the server in Docker with a personal access token, and found that Copilot could then create a pull request on GitHub directly rather than just explaining how. The writeup frames MCP (Model Context Protocol) as the set of permissions that lets AI act on external systems, noting that mcp.json defines exactly which operations the model is allowed to perform.", "body_md": "I've been seeing the term \"MCP\" quite frequently lately.\n\nIt seems to be a new technology related to AI, but when I read the explanations, I don't really understand it... lol\n\nSo I decided to **skip the complicated theory and just try it out to understand it**.\n\nUsing GitHub's official **GitHub MCP Server**,\n\nI'll experience \"what MCP can do\".\n\nMCP (Model Context Protocol) is\n\n**a set of rules that gives AI permission to \"go ahead and operate\"**.\n\nUntil now, generative AI could only provide advice,\n\nbut with MCP, **AI can now operate directly**.\n\nLet me use GitHub as an example.\n\nNormally, if you ask Copilot to \"create a PR\",\n\nit will only teach you how to do it, and you have to do the actual work yourself.\n\nHowever, with MCP,\n\n**Copilot can actually access GitHub and create PRs directly**.\n\nHere's what I used this time:\n\n[https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server)\n\nI'll try to enable Copilot to operate GitHub from the familiar VSCode environment.\n\n`test` branch\nIn VSCode's extensions, search for `@mcp GitHub` and install it.\n\nThen, **`.vscode/mcp.json`** will be created in the project.\n\nmcp.json\n\n```\n{\n    \"servers\": {\n        \"io.github.github/github-mcp-server\": {\n            \"type\": \"stdio\",\n            \"command\": \"docker\",\n            \"args\": [\n                \"run\",\n                \"-i\",\n                \"--rm\",\n                \"-e\",\n                \"GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=${input:token}\",\n                \"ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:0.30.2\"\n            ],\n            \"gallery\": \"https://api.mcp.github.com\",\n            \"version\": \"0.30.2\"\n        }\n    },\n    \"inputs\": [\n        {\n            \"id\": \"token\",\n            \"type\": \"promptString\",\n            \"description\": \"\",\n            \"password\": true\n        }\n    ]\n}\n```\n\n**Warning:** mcp.json is \"the list of things AI is allowed to do\". AI cannot perform operations that are not listed here.\n\nI give Copilot the following instruction:\n\nAfter waiting a while, it seems Copilot created the PR for me.\n\nI accessed the GitHub page and confirmed it was actually created!\n\nMCP really does the job...!\n\nBy using MCP,\n\nI really felt that AI becomes **\"an entity that not only thinks but actually takes action\"**\n\nrather than just providing advice. It's like having a talented colleague! (lol)\n\nMCP is difficult to understand just by reading the explanation.\n\nBut when you actually try it, you realize \"oh, that's what it is\" all at once.\n\nIf you're interested in MCP,\n\nI recommend trying GitHub MCP Server first.\n\n**Info:** In this article, I tried GitHub MCP Server, but there are many other types of MCP. I plan to try others later as well.", "url": "https://wpnews.pro/news/what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server", "canonical_source": "https://dev.to/kawasaki031677/what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server-1bb5", "published_at": "2026-11-12 13:43:43+00:00", "updated_at": "2026-11-12 13:52:58.257318+00:00", "lang": "en", "topics": ["ai-agents", "agent-protocols", "developer-tools", "ai-tools"], "entities": ["GitHub", "GitHub MCP Server", "Model Context Protocol", "Copilot", "Visual Studio Code", "Docker"], "also_reported_by": [], "alternates": {"html": "https://wpnews.pro/news/what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server", "markdown": "https://wpnews.pro/news/what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server.md", "text": "https://wpnews.pro/news/what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server.txt", "jsonld": "https://wpnews.pro/news/what-is-mcp-trying-out-github-mcp-server.jsonld"}}