The following Quick Start will walk you through running the GitLab MCP Server and chatbot at the Room level for fast cloud-based testing. Room-level services are temporary and will shut down automatically when the room closes.

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Required Environment Variables

  • GITLAB_API_URL: The base URL for the GitLab API (default: https://gitlab.com/api/v4)
  • GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN: Your GitLab personal access token

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Steps

  1. Install Meshagent 
    pip install "meshagent[all]"
  2. Authenticate with Meshagent
  3. Start the MCP GitLab Server in a Meshagent Room 
    meshagent service test --room=test --role=agent \
   --image=meshagent/mcp-gitlab:latest \
   --env GITLAB_API_URL=https://gitlab.com/api/v4 \
   --env GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=<YOUR_TOKEN> \
   --env MESHAGENT_PORT=8001 \
   --port="num=8001 path=/webhook liveness=/ type=meshagent.callable" \
   --name=mcp-gitlab-service-test
    • This command launches a Meshagent Room with a cloud-hosted test MCP GitLab server. The room will remain open while actively used, and all services (server, chatbot, etc.) are cleaned up when the room closes.
  4. Join the Room with a Chatbot Connected to the GitLab Toolkit 
    meshagent chatbot join --room=test --agent-name=mcp-gitlab --name=mcp-gitlab --toolkit=mcp-gitlab
    • This starts a chatbot in the Meshagent Room, giving you a conversational interface to the GitLab tools.
    • Multiple chatbots or toolkits can be used simultaneously within the same room.
    • Meshagent will provide a link to access the room.
  5. Interact via the Room Link
    • Open the room link in your browser and chat with the agent to run MCP GitLab tools directly!

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Project Level Deployment

For production, configure persistent services so the GitLab MCP tools and chatbot automatically join every room in your project. This ensures the MCP server and chatbot are always available, without manual steps or running local processes.

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Steps

  1. Create the MCP GitLab Service (Persistent Agent) 
    meshagent service create --role=agent \
   --image=meshagent/mcp-gitlab:latest \
   --env GITLAB_API_URL=https://gitlab.com/api/v4 \
   --env GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN=<YOUR_TOKEN> \
   --env MESHAGENT_PORT=8001 \
   --port="num=8001 path=/webhook liveness=/ type=meshagent.callable" \
   --name=mcp-gitlab-service
  2. Create the Persistent Chatbot Service 
    meshagent service create --image="meshagent/cli:latest" \
   --port="num=9001 path=/agent liveness=/ type=meshagent.callable participant_name=mcp-gitlab-chatbot" \
   --env="MESHAGENT_PORT=9001" \
   --name="mcp-gitlab-chatbot-service" \
   --command="meshagent chatbot service --agent-name=mcp-gitlab-chatbot --toolkit=mcp-gitlab"
Now, any room created in your Meshagent project will auto-include both the GitLab MCP Server and chatbot, streamlining automation, collaboration, and AI-powered development workflows.

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Tools Available

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Summary of Tools

ToolShort Description
create_branchCreate a new branch in a GitLab project
create_issueCreate a new issue in a GitLab project
create_merge_requestCreate a new merge request in a GitLab project
create_or_update_fileCreate or update a single file in a GitLab project
create_repositoryCreate a new GitLab project
fork_repositoryFork a GitLab project to your account or specified namespace
get_file_contentsGet the contents of a file or directory from a project
push_filesPush multiple files to a project in a single commit
search_repositoriesSearch for GitLab projects

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Tool Details

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create_branch

Create a new branch in a GitLab project
Parameters:
  • branch (string): Name for the new branch
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path
  • ref (string, optional): Source branch/commit for new branch

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create_issue

Create a new issue in a GitLab project
Parameters:
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path
  • title (string): Issue title
  • assignee_ids (array, optional): Array of user IDs to assign
  • description (string, optional): Issue description
  • labels (array, optional): Array of label names
  • milestone_id (number, optional): Milestone ID to assign

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create_merge_request

Create a new merge request in a GitLab project
Parameters:
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path
  • source_branch (string): Branch with changes
  • target_branch (string): Branch to merge into
  • title (string): Merge request title
  • allow_collaboration (boolean, optional): Allow commits from upstream members
  • description (string, optional): Merge request description
  • draft (boolean, optional): Create as draft merge request

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create_or_update_file

Create or update a single file in a GitLab project
Parameters:
  • branch (string): Branch to create/update the file in
  • commit_message (string): Commit message
  • content (string): File content
  • file_path (string): Path to create/update the file
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path
  • previous_path (string, optional): Path of the file to move/rename

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create_repository

Create a new GitLab project
Parameters:
  • name (string): Repository name
  • description (string, optional): Repository description
  • initialize_with_readme (boolean, optional): Initialize with README.md
  • visibility (string, optional): Repository visibility level

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fork_repository

Fork a GitLab project
Parameters:
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path
  • namespace (string, optional): Namespace to fork to (full path)

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get_file_contents

Get contents of a file or directory from a GitLab project
Parameters:
  • file_path (string): Path to the file/directory
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path
  • ref (string, optional): Branch/tag/commit

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push_files

Push multiple files to a GitLab project in a single commit
Parameters:
  • branch (string): Branch to push to
  • commit_message (string): Commit message
  • files (array): Array of files to push
  • project_id (string): Project ID or URL-encoded path

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search_repositories

Search for GitLab projects
Parameters:
  • search (string): Search query
  • page (number, optional): Page number (default: 1)
  • per_page (number, optional): Results per page (default: 20)

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Further Information

For more details on running, extending, or integrating Meshagent with other services, check out the resources above!