GitHub remote MCP connector

  • Updated

The GitHub remote Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector in Optimizely Opal lets you access, manage, and collaborate on code repositories. Connect GitHub to Opal to streamline your development workflows without leaving your AI workspace. These tools connect directly to your GitHub environment. Use them to search repositories, read and analyze source code, manage issues and pull requests. Review commits and automate development tasks from Opal.

The GitHub remote MCP is managed by GitHub. See the Remote GitHub MCP Server documentation in GitHub.

First, an Opal administrator must Connect the GitHub remote MCP to Opal. After adding the MCP server, individual Opal users and agent builders log in to GitHub to access their information from Opal. Administrators need to add the GitHub remote MCP only once.

Connect the GitHub remote MCP to Opal

The first person to connect a third-party service to Opal should be an administrator of that service. Administrator access installs the complete set of tools, so Opal adds every available tool. If a non-administrator connects the service first, Opal installs only the tools that account can access.

Opal administrators connect and grant access to GitHub from Opal. After granting access, administrators select which tools to enable in Opal and optionally customize their display names.

Add GitHub connection

As an Opal administrator, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to Connectors in Opal.
  2. (Optional) Enter GitHub in the search bar to filter the connectors list.

  3. Click Connect on the GitHub tile. 

  4. Log in to your GitHub account. 
  5. Configure the connector.
  6. Click Accept.

A confirmation message displays and you can close the pop-up window.

Configure Opal tools

After adding the GitHub connection, Opal prompts you to select which tools to enable and optionally customize their display names.

As an Opal administrator, complete the following steps:

  1. Deselect any tools you do not want to add to Opal.
  2. (Optional) Update any tool's display name.
  3. Click Finish. 

The GitHub tile displays Connect on the Connectors tab for Opal users to authenticate with their personal accounts.

To update the available tools or names, see Update tools.

Authenticate with GitHub

Each Opal user and agent builder logs in to GitHub individually to access their GitHub data from Opal. User-level authentication ensures you access only the data your GitHub account is authorized to view.

Before you begin, confirm that an Opal administrator has connected the GitHub remote MCP to Opal. Until an administrator connects it, the GitHub tile displays Contact admin instead of Connect and you cannot select it.
  1. Go to Connectors.
  2. (Optional) Enter GitHub in the search bar to filter the connectors list.
  3. Click Connect on the GitHub tile.
  4. Log in to GitHub.

After you connect to GitHub, the GitHub connector tools become available in Opal Chat, agents, and workflows. 

GitHub connector tools

GitHub connector tools are available in Opal after an administrator connects the GitHub remote MCP to Opal and you log in to GitHub from Opal. The available tools depend on which tools your administrator enabled. For a full list of available tools and actions, see Remote GitHub MCP Server documentation in GitHub.

Update tools

To rename, add, or remove tools, an Opal administrator must delete the GitHub tools registry and re-add it. To do so, complete the following steps:

  1. Follow the steps in Delete a tool registry.
  2. Add GitHub connection.
  3. Configure Opal tools.

If you use Opti ID, administrators can turn off generative AI in the Opti ID Admin Center. See Turn generative AI off across Optimizely applications.