Cerngitlab MCP Server

An MCP server that connects LLMs to CERN GitLab for discovering HEP code, documentation, and analysis examples.

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Cerngitlab MCP Server?

An MCP server that connects LLMs to CERN GitLab for discovering HEP code, documentation, and analysis examples.

What it actually does

  • 15 MCP tools — for searching, browsing, and analyzing CERN GitLab repositories
  • Dual-mode operation — — stdio (single-user) and HTTP (multi-user) modes
  • CLI tool — (cerngitlab-cli) for direct command-line usage
  • Public access — — works without authentication for public repositories
  • Multi-user HTTP mode — — CERN SSO + GitLab OAuth authentication for centralized deployments; GitLab enforces all access permissions natively
  • HEP-focused — — dependency parsing for Python and C++ ecosystems, binary detection for .root files, issue search

Configuration

  1. CERN SSO client — Register a client at the CERN Authorization Service. Note the client ID. 2. GitLab OAuth application — Create one at https://gitlab.cern.ch/-/profile/applications. - Set the redirect URI to https://gitlabmcp.cern.ch/oauth/callback (replace with actual URL) - Enable the read_api read_repository read_user scopes - Note the application ID

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

ToolWhat it does
search_projectsSearch for public CERN GitLab projects (repositories) by keyword, topic, or language
get_project_infoGet detailed project metadata (stars, description, languages, statistics)
list_branchesList or search project branches and their commit metadata
list_project_filesList files and directories in a project's repository
get_file_contentFetch the content of a specific file (includes binary detection)
get_project_readmeGet the README content for a project
search_codeSearch for code within a specific project or globally
search_lhcb_stackSearch for code within an LHCb software stack (e.g., 'sim11'), with automatic Git ref resolution
search_issuesSearch for issues in a project
get_wiki_pagesList wiki pages for a project
inspect_projectAnalyze project structure, build system, dependencies, and CI/CD
list_releasesList releases for a project
get_releaseGet details of a specific release
list_tagsList tags for a project
test_connectivityTest connection to the GitLab instance

How to install the Cerngitlab MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cerngitlab": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "cerngitlab-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "CERNGITLAB_TOKEN": "YOUR_CERNGITLAB_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}

From the project documentation. Replace placeholders and example paths before connecting.

Configuration

  1. CERN SSO client — Register a client at the CERN Authorization Service. Note the client ID. 2. GitLab OAuth application — Create one at https://gitlab.cern.ch/-/profile/applications. - Set the redirect URI to https://gitlabmcp.cern.ch/oauth/callback (replace with actual URL) - Enable the read_api read_repository read_user scopes - Note the application ID
VariableDescriptionRequired
CERNGITLAB_TOKENDeclared in the maintainer’s client configuration.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • “Use Cerngitlab MCP to search projects.”
  • “Use Cerngitlab MCP to get project info.”
  • “Use Cerngitlab MCP to list branches.”

Frequently asked questions

An MCP server that connects LLMs to CERN GitLab for discovering HEP code, documentation, and analysis examples. Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.