MCP Server Integration Skill
Purpose
Guides proper configuration and usage of Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers for GitHub Copilot custom agents, ensuring secure, efficient, and standards-compliant integrations.
Rules
MCP Server Configuration
Standard MCP Servers for Hack23:
{
"mcpServers": {
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/insiders",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer ${{ secrets.COPILOT_MCP_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}",
"X-MCP-Toolsets": "all"
},
"tools": ["*"]
},
"filesystem": {
"type": "local",
"command": "mcp-server-filesystem",
"args": ["/home/runner/work/homepage/homepage"],
"tools": ["*"]
},
"memory": {
"type": "local",
"command": "mcp-server-memory",
"args": [],
"tools": ["*"]
},
"sequential-thinking": {
"type": "local",
"command": "mcp-server-sequential-thinking",
"args": [],
"tools": ["*"]
},
"playwright": {
"type": "local",
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@playwright/mcp@latest", "--headless"],
"env": {
"DISPLAY": ":99"
},
"tools": ["*"]
}
}
}
MCP Server Security
MUST:
- Use GitHub secrets for all credentials (
${{ secrets.NAME }}) - Never hardcode tokens or API keys
- Use least-privilege access (specific tools, not "*" unless necessary)
- Validate all MCP server inputs
- Use HTTPS for remote MCP servers
GitHub MCP Authentication:
{
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/insiders",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer ${{ secrets.COPILOT_MCP_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}"
}
}
}
Available MCP Servers
Core Services:
1. GitHub MCP
- Repository operations
- Issue/PR management
- GitHub Actions
- Copilot coding agent tools
2. Filesystem MCP
- Read/write files
- Directory navigation
- File search
3. Git MCP
- Commit history
- Branch operations
- Diff viewing
4. Memory MCP
- Context preservation
- Cross-session memory
- Knowledge retention
Intelligence Services:
5. Sequential Thinking MCP
- Complex problem breakdown
- Reasoning chains
- Decision documentation
6. Brave Search MCP (optional)
- Web search
- Research capabilities
- Requires API key
Automation Services:
7. Playwright MCP
- Browser automation
- UI testing
- Screenshot capture
- Web scraping
Agent Tool Configuration
Minimal Tool Set (Recommended):
---
name: ui-enhancement-specialist
description: UI/UX specialist
tools: ["view", "edit", "create", "shell", "search_code"]
---
Full Tool Access (For Meta Agents):
---
name: agent-curator
description: Meta agent for agent management
tools: ["*"]
---
MCP Server Usage Patterns
GitHub MCP - Issue Management:
// Create issue with Copilot assignment
github-create_issue({
owner: "Hack23",
repo: "homepage",
title: "Implement feature X",
body: "Detailed requirements...",
assignees: ["copilot-swe-agent[bot]"]
})
// Advanced: Assign with base_ref and custom instructions
assign_copilot_to_issue({
owner: "Hack23",
repo: "homepage",
issue_number: 123,
base_ref: "feature/branch",
custom_instructions: "Follow accessibility guidelines"
})
Filesystem MCP - File Operations:
// Read file
filesystem-read_text_file({ path: "/path/to/file.md" })
// Write file
filesystem-write_file({
path: "/path/to/file.md",
content: "# New Content"
})
// List directory
filesystem-list_directory({ path: "/path/to/dir" })
Memory MCP - Context Retention:
// Store knowledge
memory-store({
key: "project-architecture",
value: "This project uses microservices with AWS Lambda..."
})
// Retrieve knowledge
memory-retrieve({ key: "project-architecture" })
Playwright MCP - Browser Automation:
// Navigate and screenshot
playwright-browser_navigate({ url: "https://hack23.com" })
playwright-browser_take_screenshot({ filename: "homepage.png" })
// Test accessibility
playwright-browser_snapshot()
Environment Configuration
Workflow Setup (.github/workflows/copilot-setup-steps.yml):
env:
GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.COPILOT_MCP_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.COPILOT_MCP_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN }}
DISPLAY: ":99"
steps:
- name: Install MCP Servers
run: |
npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem
npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory
npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking
npm install -g @playwright/mcp
Troubleshooting
Common Issues:
1. MCP Server Not Found
- Verify installation: `which mcp-server-filesystem`
- Check PATH environment variable
- Reinstall: `npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem`
2. Authentication Errors
- Verify secret exists: COPILOT_MCP_GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN
- Check token permissions
- Ensure proper secret reference syntax
3. Permission Denied
- Check filesystem permissions
- Verify workspace paths
- Review allowed directories
4. Playwright Display Error
- Verify Xvfb running
- Check DISPLAY environment variable
- Install display dependencies
Related Policies
Related Documentation
Resources
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