| name | gitlab-mcp-skill |
| description | Use this skill when working with the GitLab MCP server tools for merge requests, issues, repositories, pipelines, work items, variables, dependency proxy, webhooks, search, CI catalog, and related GitLab workflows. |
gitlab-mcp
GitLab MCP server providing 212 tools: 210 tools across 19 toolsets, plus execute_graphql and the always-available discover_tools meta-tool.
For exact generated parameter tables, see docs/tools/. Use this file for workflow shape and high-signal parameter hints.
Toolsets
| Toolset | Default | Enable with |
|---|
| merge_requests (43 tools) | yes | - |
| issues (24 tools) | yes | - |
| repositories (7 tools) | yes | - |
| branches (15 tools) | yes | - |
| projects (10 tools) | yes | - |
| labels (5 tools) | yes | - |
| ci (4 tools) | yes | - |
| groups (1 tool) | yes | - |
| users (7 tools) | yes | - |
| pipelines (19 tools) | no | USE_PIPELINE=true or GITLAB_TOOLSETS=pipelines |
| milestones (17 tools) | no | USE_MILESTONE=true or GITLAB_TOOLSETS=milestones |
| wiki (10 tools) | no | USE_GITLAB_WIKI=true or GITLAB_TOOLSETS=wiki |
| releases (7 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=releases |
| tags (5 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=tags |
| workitems (18 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=workitems |
| webhooks (3 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=webhooks |
| search (3 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=search |
| variables (10 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=variables |
| dependency_proxy (4 tools) | no | GITLAB_TOOLSETS=dependency_proxy |
Enable all: GITLAB_TOOLSETS=all. Use GITLAB_TOOLS to enable individual tools outside their toolset. discover_tools can list and activate opt-in categories for the current session. execute_graphql is not in a toolset; enable it explicitly with GITLAB_TOOLS=execute_graphql.
Key Workflows
Code Review (see reference/code-review.md)
list_merge_request_changed_files - get file paths only (no diffs)get_merge_request_file_diff - get diffs for 3-5 files per call (batch)create_merge_request_thread or create_draft_note - leave review commentsbulk_publish_draft_notes - publish all drafts at once
MR Lifecycle (see reference/merge-requests.md)
create_merge_request -> review -> approve_merge_request -> merge_merge_request
Issue Management (see reference/issues.md)
create_issue -> create_issue_link -> create_issue_note -> update_issue
Use update_issue_description_patch for small edits to long issue descriptions instead of resending the full body.
Projects & Namespaces
get_project, list_projects, update_project - inspect or change project settingslist_namespaces, get_namespace, verify_namespace - find target namespaces before creating projects/groupsverify_namespace.parent_id scopes nested namespace checkscreate_repository.namespace_id creates a project under a group namespace
Branches & Commits
create_branch, list_branches, get_branch, delete_branch- Protected branches:
list_protected_branches, get_protected_branch, protect_branch, unprotect_branch, update_default_branch
- Commits:
list_commits, get_commit, get_commit_diff, get_file_blame, list_commit_statuses, create_commit_status
CI
- Lint configs:
validate_ci_lint, validate_project_ci_lint
- Catalog:
list_ci_catalog_resources, get_ci_catalog_resource
- Pipelines/jobs/deployments: see reference/pipelines.md
Work Items (see reference/work-items.md)
list_work_items -> get_work_item -> update_work_item -> create_work_item_note
Variables & Dependency Proxy
Enable with GITLAB_TOOLSETS=variables or GITLAB_TOOLSETS=dependency_proxy.
- Variables: project/group CRUD tools (
list_*_variables, get_*_variable, create_*_variable, update_*_variable, delete_*_variable)
- Dependency proxy:
get_dependency_proxy_settings, update_dependency_proxy_settings, list_dependency_proxy_blobs, purge_dependency_proxy_cache
Webhooks & Search
- Webhooks: see reference/webhooks.md
- Code search: see reference/search.md
File Operations
- Read:
get_file_contents, get_repository_tree
- Write:
create_or_update_file (single file), push_files (multiple files in one commit)
Parameter Hints
- project_id: numeric ID or URL-encoded path (
group%2Fsubgroup%2Fproject)
- namespace_id: numeric namespace ID for
create_repository; use list_namespaces/verify_namespace first
- parent_id: scope subgroup creation or
verify_namespace for nested groups
- MR lookup: provide
mergeRequestIid OR branchName (not both)
- list_issues: default scope = created by current user. Use
scope: "all" for all issues
- list_merge_requests: without project_id returns user's MRs across all projects
- CI catalog resource lookup: provide exactly one of
id or full_path
- emoji reactions: merge request, issue, and work item reaction tools use GitLab emoji names like
thumbsup, rocket, or eyes
- work items: status and custom fields require GitLab Premium/Ultimate features
- execute_graphql: escape double quotes in query strings
Destructive Tools (require caution)
delete_branch, delete_draft_note, delete_group_milestone, delete_group_variable, delete_group_wiki_page, delete_issue, delete_issue_emoji_reaction, delete_issue_link, delete_issue_note_emoji_reaction, delete_label, delete_merge_request_discussion_note, delete_merge_request_emoji_reaction, delete_merge_request_note, delete_merge_request_note_emoji_reaction, delete_milestone, delete_project_variable, delete_release, delete_tag, delete_wiki_page, delete_work_item_emoji_reaction, delete_work_item_note_emoji_reaction, merge_merge_request, protect_branch, purge_dependency_proxy_cache, push_files, unprotect_branch, update_default_branch
Advanced
- Dynamic discovery:
discover_tools lists and activates opt-in toolsets at runtime
- GraphQL:
execute_graphql for queries not covered by REST tools
- Tool docs:
docs/tools/ is generated from tools/registry.ts; prefer it for exact schemas
- Zoekt search:
search_code, search_project_code, search_group_code (requires advanced search enabled)
- Work Items: GraphQL-based alternative to issues (Premium/Ultimate features)
