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

• Secure Development SKILL

• GitHub Actions CI/CD SKILL

Related Documentation

• task-agent Agent

• .github/copilot-mcp.json

• .github/workflows/copilot-setup-steps.yml

Resources

• MCP Specification

• GitHub Copilot MCP Documentation

• @modelcontextprotocol packages