Zero-dependency MCP server connecting Claude to GitHub Issues with OAuth 2.0
github-issues-mcp has well-structured tool definitions with complete input schemas and clear descriptions. All 10 tools are explicitly registered with proper JSON Schema. Naming follows verb_noun convention (list_issues, get_issue, create_issue, etc.). Descriptions are concise (10-100 chars) and action-oriented. However, output schemas are not documented, LLMs cannot predict response structure for downstream chaining. Parameter descriptions are minimal (e.g., 'Repository owner' lacks context on format/constraints). Error handling guidance is absent. No tool annotations (readOnlyHint/destructiveHint) despite clear read/write distinction. Missing pagination guidance for list_issues and list_project_items. No confirmation pattern for destructive operations (create_issue, update_issue, add_to_project).
Add a comment to an issue
Add an issue to a GitHub Project board
Create a new issue
Get details of a specific issue
Get a GitHub Project board with its status columns and field IDs
List issues in a GitHub repository
List all labels in a repository
Output schemas not documented. LLMs cannot predict response structure, breaking tool chaining. E.g., list_issues returns what fields? Does get_issue include comments? Agents must guess or fail.
No tool annotations (readOnlyHint, destructiveHint, idempotentHint). Agents cannot distinguish safe reads from destructive writes. create_issue, update_issue, add_to_project, move_project_item should be marked destructiveHint=true.
Parameter descriptions lack format/constraint details. 'Repository owner' does not explain if it accepts org names, usernames, or both. 'Issue number' does not specify numeric range. Agents cannot validate inputs.
| Scored | Grade | Overall | Spec posture | Rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-23 | C | 65 | 2026-07-28+ | v2 |
List all items in a GitHub Project with their status/column
Move a project item to a different status column (e.g., Todo, In Progress, Done)
Update an existing issue
No pagination guidance for list_issues and list_project_items. Descriptions do not mention limit, offset, or result count. Large result sets will blow context windows.
No error recovery guidance. If create_issue fails due to invalid label, agents have no hint to call list_labels first. If add_to_project fails, no guidance on what went wrong.