{
  "slug": "github-mcp-server-can-exclude-tools-through-server-configuration-5943ebd4438b",
  "title": "github-mcp-server can exclude tools through server configuration",
  "tools": [
    "github-mcp-server"
  ],
  "tags": [
    "agent"
  ],
  "introduced_at": "2026-02-19T17:03:35.000Z",
  "announced_at": "2026-02-19T17:03:35.000Z",
  "effective_at": null,
  "date_basis": "source-publication",
  "status": "unknown",
  "how": {
    "incantation": "When configuring a GitHub MCP Server deployment, list the tools to disable as comma-separated names. Set them with `--exclude-tools` for a local server or `X-MCP-Exclude-Tools` for a remote server; excluded tools stay disabled even if otherwise enabled.",
    "examples": [
      "{\"type\":\"stdio\",\"command\":\"go\",\"args\":[\"run\",\"./cmd/github-mcp-server\",\"stdio\",\"--toolsets=<toolsets>\",\"--exclude-tools=<tool1>,<tool2>\"],\"env\":{\"GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN\":\"<github-token>\"}}",
      "{\"type\":\"http\",\"url\":\"https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/\",\"headers\":{\"X-MCP-Toolsets\":\"<toolsets>\",\"X-MCP-Exclude-Tools\":\"<tool1>,<tool2>\"}}"
    ],
    "gotchas": [
      "Version: v0.31.0",
      "--exclude-tools=<tool1>,<tool2> (required): Comma-separated tool names to disable, regardless of other settings.",
      "X-MCP-Exclude-Tools: <tool1>,<tool2> (required): Remote-server header listing comma-separated tool names to disable.",
      "Prerequisite: Use the local stdio or remote HTTP server configuration format; the docs’ local example supplies a GitHub personal access token through `GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN`."
    ]
  },
  "why_it_matters": "Disable selected tools in a GitHub MCP Server deployment configuration.",
  "sources": [
    "https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/releases/tag/v0.31.0",
    "https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server/blob/v0.31.0/docs/server-configuration.md"
  ],
  "rank": 0.91029,
  "judge": {
    "publish": true,
    "judge_model": "codex-cli/gpt-6-luna+typesafe/jev-1.13.0",
    "prompt_version": "extract-v7+enrich-v1+judge-v2x3+jev-publish-v1"
  },
  "review_state": "approved",
  "provenance": {
    "run_id": "backfill-20261007",
    "verdict_id": "backfill-20261007:backfill-20261007-85c9ca7437689e1b-13:gate",
    "evidence_hash": "b150bfb5b46e25b1d27bd52f5275332e0948a670f381be1001f7bcd46ff21ef6"
  },
  "review": {
    "draft_hash": "5b363d9e8147ab2b7f4637681a2fddb7563b4b7cf97073e49ba7d4caffebb2ee",
    "reviewer": "publication-gate",
    "reviewed_at": "2026-10-07T00:00:00.000Z",
    "decision": "backfill-20261007:gate",
    "reason": "3 of 3 judge runs approved with p_yes >= 0.9 (mean 0.91 >= 0.9; 2 needed) and Jev gave 0.60 (>= 0.6 needed)."
  }
}