Setup Local GitHub MCP Server and Integrate with Cursor

[csmangum]

We need to set up a local GitHub MCP server using Docker to enable Cursor IDE to create and manage GitHub issues and pull requests via AI-assisted workflows. This will streamline development by automating context-aware issue and PR creation directly from the IDE.

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Checklist:

• Install Docker if not already installed

• Generate a GitHub Personal Access Token with the following scopes:

  • repo
  • issues
  • pull_requests

• Run the GitHub MCP server using Docker:

  docker run -i --rm \
    -e GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=ghp_yourTokenHere \
    ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server

• (Optional) Limit toolsets using:

  -e GITHUB_TOOLSETS=repos,issues,pull_requests

• Register the MCP server in Cursor:

  • Settings → MCP Servers → Add Server

  • Command: docker

  • Args:

    [
      "run",
      "-i",
      "--rm",
      "-e",
      "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=ghp_yourTokenHere",
      "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
    ]

• Test Cursor integration by having it create an issue or PR via chat

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Goal:
Have a fully functioning MCP integration running locally that allows Cursor to interact with GitHub repositories using natural language.