Gitea MCP Server: A New Paradigm for AI-Driven Code Collaboration

Introduction

Gitea MCP Server is a revolutionary tool that enables developers to interact with Gitea repositories using natural language through the implementation of the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a groundbreaking open protocol that provides a unified standard for applications to interact with Large Language Models (LLMs). It's analogous to a USB-C interface for the AI world:

• Standardized communication interface
• Seamless integration with various data sources and tools
• Simplified AI application development workflow

Core Advantages

• Natural Language Interaction: Complete repository operations using everyday language
• Intelligent Workflow: Automate repetitive tasks to enhance development efficiency
• Seamless Integration: Perfect integration with existing Gitea environments
• Open Standard: Based on MCP protocol, ensuring interoperability and extensibility

Quick Start

System Requirements

• Gitea instance with valid access token
• MCP protocol compatible client (e.g., Cursor, Claude)
  • Supported clients list: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/clients
• Runtime requirements:
  • Source compilation: Go 1.24+
  • Make tool (optional)

Installation Methods

1. Pre-compiled Version (Recommended)

Download the latest version from the official release page: https://gitea.com/gitea/gitea-mcp/releases

2. Source Compilation

# Clone repository
git clone https://gitea.com/gitea/gitea-mcp.git

# Enter project directory and compile
cd gitea-mcp
make build

# Optional: Install to system path
sudo cp gitea-mcp /usr/local/bin

Configuration Guide

Gitea MCP Server provides two operating modes to suit different usage scenarios:

stdio Mode (Recommended)

Advantages: Simple configuration, high stability

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitea": {
      "command": "gitea-mcp",
      "args": [
        "-t", "stdio",
        "--host", "https://gitea.com",
        "--token", "<your-access-token>"
      ]
    }
  }
}

SSE (Server-Sent Events) Mode

Advantages: Supports real-time event pushing, suitable for distributed deployment

1. Start the server:

gitea-mcp -t sse --host <your-gitea-url> --token <your-access-token>

2. Client configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitea": {
      "url": "http://localhost:8080/sse"
    }
  }
}

Cursor Client Configuration Guide

1. Open Cursor settings
2. Navigate to MCP settings tab
3. Add Gitea MCP Server configuration
4. Enable service (shows green status when connected successfully)
5. Verify configuration: Send test command gitea mcp server version
6. Examples to use the mcp server in cursor

Features

Core Functions

API Toolkit

Gitea MCP Server provides a rich set of API tools covering common code collaboration scenarios:

Best Practices

1. Code Review Process

• Use natural language to describe changes
• Automatically generate change summaries
• Intelligent code review suggestions

2. Issue Management

• Automatic classification and labeling
• Intelligent priority sorting
• Related issue recommendations

3. Documentation Maintenance

• Real-time documentation updates
• Intelligent content organization
• Automatic formatting

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to obtain a Gitea access token?
   • Log in to Gitea
   • Go to Settings > Applications
   • Generate new access token
2. Which clients are supported?
   • Cursor (recommended)
   • Claude
   • Other MCP protocol-compatible clients
3. How to troubleshoot connection issues?
   • Check network connection
   • Verify access token
   • Review service logs

Community Support

• Issue Reporting: https://gitea.com/gitea/gitea-mcp/issues
• Technical Discussions: https://discord.gg/Mhujcj2M

License

Gitea MCP Server is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.