What is MCP? Trying Out GitHub MCP Server

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.

I've been seeing the term "MCP" quite frequently lately. It seems to be a new technology related to AI, but when I read the explanations, I don't really understand it... lol So I decided to skip the complicated theory and just try it out to understand it . Using GitHub's official GitHub MCP Server , I'll experience "what MCP can do". MCP Model Context Protocol is a set of rules that gives AI permission to "go ahead and operate" . Until now, generative AI could only provide advice, but with MCP, AI can now operate directly . Let me use GitHub as an example. Normally, if you ask Copilot to "create a PR", it will only teach you how to do it, and you have to do the actual work yourself. However, with MCP, Copilot can actually access GitHub and create PRs directly . Here's what I used this time: https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server I'll try to enable Copilot to operate GitHub from the familiar VSCode environment. test branch In VSCode's extensions, search for @mcp GitHub and install it. Then, .vscode/mcp.json will be created in the project. mcp.json { "servers": { "io.github.github/github-mcp-server": { "type": "stdio", "command": "docker", "args": "run", "-i", "--rm", "-e", "GITHUB PERSONAL ACCESS TOKEN=${input:token}", "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server:0.30.2" , "gallery": "https://api.mcp.github.com", "version": "0.30.2" } }, "inputs": { "id": "token", "type": "promptString", "description": "", "password": true } } Warning: mcp.json is "the list of things AI is allowed to do". AI cannot perform operations that are not listed here. I give Copilot the following instruction: After waiting a while, it seems Copilot created the PR for me. I accessed the GitHub page and confirmed it was actually created MCP really does the job... By using MCP, I really felt that AI becomes "an entity that not only thinks but actually takes action" rather than just providing advice. It's like having a talented colleague lol MCP is difficult to understand just by reading the explanation. But when you actually try it, you realize "oh, that's what it is" all at once. If you're interested in MCP, I recommend trying GitHub MCP Server first. 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.