---
title: Manual Configuration Guide
description: "Configure GitLab MCP Server manually by editing your MCP client's JSON configuration. Includes examples for npx, yarn dlx, Docker stdio, and HTTP/SSE remote server connections."
head:
- - meta
- name: keywords
content: gitlab mcp manual setup, mcp configuration, json config, yarn dlx, docker stdio, http sse, environment variables
---
# Manual Configuration Guide
For users who prefer full control over their setup, you can configure GitLab MCP manually by editing your MCP client's configuration file directly.
## Configuration Format
All MCP clients use a JSON configuration with the same structure:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"gitlab": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@structured-world/gitlab-mcp"],
"env": {
"GITLAB_TOKEN": "your_gitlab_token",
"GITLAB_API_URL": "https://gitlab.com"
}
}
}
}
```
## Step-by-Step
### 1. Create a GitLab Token
Follow the [Authentication Guide](/guide/authentication#create-token) for detailed steps, or briefly:
1. Go to **Settings > Access Tokens** in your GitLab instance
2. Create a token with `api` and `read_user` scopes
3. Copy the token value
### 2. Find Your Config File
See [Supported Clients](/clients/) for the config file location specific to your client and operating system.
### 3. Edit the Configuration
Add the `gitlab` entry to the `mcpServers` object in your config file. If the file doesn't exist, create it with the full JSON structure above.
### 4. Set Environment Variables
Add any desired [configuration options](/guide/configuration) to the `env` object:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"gitlab": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@structured-world/gitlab-mcp"],
"env": {
"GITLAB_TOKEN": "glpat-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx",
"GITLAB_API_URL": "https://gitlab.company.com",
"GITLAB_PROJECT_ID": "42",
"GITLAB_READ_ONLY_MODE": "false",
"USE_WORKITEMS": "true",
"USE_PIPELINE": "true"
}
}
}
}
```
### 5. Restart Your Client
After saving the config file, restart your MCP client to load the new configuration.
## Alternative: Yarn dlx
If you prefer Yarn:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"gitlab": {
"command": "yarn",
"args": ["dlx", "-q", "@structured-world/gitlab-mcp@latest", "stdio"],
"env": {
"GITLAB_TOKEN": "your_gitlab_token",
"GITLAB_API_URL": "https://gitlab.com"
}
}
}
}
```
## Alternative: Docker (stdio)
For containerized execution:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"gitlab": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run", "-i", "--rm",
"-e", "GITLAB_TOKEN",
"-e", "GITLAB_API_URL",
"ghcr.io/structured-world/gitlab-mcp:latest"
],
"env": {
"GITLAB_TOKEN": "your_gitlab_token",
"GITLAB_API_URL": "https://gitlab.com"
}
}
}
}
```
## Alternative: HTTP/SSE Remote Server
For connecting to a running GitLab MCP server:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"gitlab": {
"type": "streamable-http",
"url": "http://localhost:3333/mcp"
}
}
}
```
## Verifying Configuration
Use the `install --show` command to preview the generated configuration for any client:
```bash
npx @structured-world/gitlab-mcp install --show --claude-desktop
```
## Next Steps
- [Environment Variables reference](/guide/configuration)
- [Feature Flags](/guide/quick-start#feature-flags)
- [Transport Modes](/guide/transport)
