---
title: GitLab MCP CLI Reference
description: "Complete CLI reference for GitLab MCP Server. Learn setup, init, install, docker, and list-tools commands with examples. Run via npx or install globally for configuration and management."
head:
- - meta
- name: keywords
content: gitlab mcp cli, gitlab mcp commands, mcp server setup, gitlab-mcp npx, mcp client configuration, gitlab mcp reference
---
# GitLab MCP CLI Reference
GitLab MCP provides several CLI commands for setup, installation, and management.
## Commands
| Command | Description | Guide |
|---------|-------------|-------|
| [`gitlab-mcp setup`](/cli/setup) | Interactive setup wizard | Full environment detection and configuration |
| [`gitlab-mcp init`](/cli/init) | Quick local setup | Alias for `setup --mode=local` |
| [`gitlab-mcp install`](/cli/install) | Install to MCP clients | Detect and configure AI coding assistants |
| [`gitlab-mcp docker`](/cli/docker) | Docker management | Container lifecycle and instance management |
| [`gitlab-mcp list-tools`](/cli/list-tools) | Tool documentation | Browse and export available tools |
## Usage
All commands can be run via `npx`:
```bash
npx @structured-world/gitlab-mcp <command> [options]
```
Or if installed globally:
```bash
gitlab-mcp <command> [options]
```
## Server Mode
Without any command argument, `gitlab-mcp` starts the MCP server:
```bash
# stdio mode (default)
npx @structured-world/gitlab-mcp
# Force stdio mode
npx @structured-world/gitlab-mcp stdio
# HTTP mode (when PORT is set)
PORT=3333 npx @structured-world/gitlab-mcp
```
## Global Flags
| Flag | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `--show-project-config` | Display project configuration and exit |
| `--auto` | Auto-discover profile from git remote |
| `--profile <name>` | Select a specific authentication profile |
## Next Steps
- [Setup Wizard guide](/guide/installation/wizard)
- [Configuration reference](/guide/configuration)
- [Deployment options](/deployment/)
