What environment variables are required?

`GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN` (mandatory) and `GITLAB_API_URL` (optional, defaults to `https://gitlab.com/api/v4`).

Why do I get a “file_path should be a valid file path” error?

GitLab expects properly formatted paths (forward slashes, no invalid characters, case-sensitive). Ensure the file path exists in the repository for updates and avoid special characters like `#`, `?`, `[`, `]`.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN`, `GITLAB_API_URL` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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Gitlab MCP Server

Improved implementation of Anthropic's modelcontextprotocol/servers Gitlab MCP server

Local serverstdioTypeScript

What is the Gitlab MCP Server?

Improved implementation of Anthropic's modelcontextprotocol/servers Gitlab MCP server

The short version

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for interacting with GitLab repositories with enhanced functionality.

This MCP server allows AI assistants (like Claude) to interact with GitLab repositories, manage projects, issues, merge requests, and more. It extends the original implementation with additional endpoints and improved error handling.

Project Management —
Create new repositories (with improved group namespace support)
Update project settings (including visibility)
Delete projects
Fork projects
Search for repositories

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.

Tool	What it does
create_repository	Create a new GitLab project
update_project	Update project settings including visibility
delete_project	Delete a GitLab project
search_repositories	Search for GitLab projects
get_file_contents	Get file or directory contents
create_or_update_file	Create or update a single file
push_files	Commit multiple files at once
create_branch	Create a new branch
fork_repository	Fork a project
create_issue	Create a new issue
create_merge_request	Create a new merge request
get_issues	Get issues from a project with filtering options
get_issue	Get a single issue with details
get_issue_time_stats	Get time tracking statistics for an issue

Configuration

Variable	Description	Required
GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN	Credential the server authenticates with.	Yes
GITLAB_API_URL	Endpoint or connection string the server talks to.	Yes

Example prompts to try

“Use Gitlab to create repository.”
“Use Gitlab to update project.”
“Use Gitlab to delete project.”

Frequently asked questions

It adds comprehensive endpoints for delete/update projects, time tracking, notes, labels, milestones, user assignment, and issue linking, with fixed namespace_id handling and enhanced error messages.