Agent Interface
MCP Server (official)REST API v3GraphQL API v4GitHub AppsWebhooks
What an agent can do
- ✓Read and create issues, PRs, and comments
- ✓Push commits and create branches
- ✓Read file contents and repository trees
- ✓Trigger GitHub Actions workflows
- ✓Search across repos, code, issues, and users
- ✓Manage releases and tags
- ✓Read CI/CD status and check runs
What it can't do
- ✗Modify GitHub Actions workflow YAML files (requires git push)
- ✗Access GitHub Copilot API programmatically
- ✗Manage GitHub organization SSO settings
- ✗Read private org secrets
Auth Model
GitHub App (preferred for agents)OAuth 2.0Personal Access Token (PAT)
Builder Notes
GitHub has an official MCP server. GitHub Apps are the recommended auth pattern for agents — scoped permissions, no user dependency. The REST API is fully mature; GraphQL v4 enables complex queries in fewer round trips.
Sources
Last verified: 2026-03-01