JIRA MCP Server
# JIRA MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for interacting with JIRA APIs. This server enables AI assistants to read, create, update, and manage JIRA issues through standardized MCP tools.
## Features
This MCP server provides the following tools:
- **jira_get_issue**: Get details of a specific JIRA issue by key
- **jira_search**: Search issues using JQL (JIRA Query Language) with pagination support
- **jira_create_issue**: Create a new issue with project, issue type, summary, and optional fields
- **jira_update_issue**: Update an existing issue's fields (summary, description, assignee, priority)
- **jira_transition_issue**: Transition an issue to a new status with optional comment
- **jira_add_comment**: Add a comment to an existing issue
## Requirements
- Node.js 18.0 or higher
- JIRA instance with API token access
- Personal Access Token from your JIRA instance
## Installation
### Option 1: Quick Start with npx (Recommended)
Run the JIRA MCP server directly without installation:
```bash
npx @hackdonalds/jira-mcp
```
### Option 2: Install Globally
Install the package globally for repeated use:
```bash
npm install -g @hackdonalds/jira-mcp
jira-mcp
```
### Option 3: Install from Source
1. Clone this repository:
```bash
git clone <repository-url>
cd jira-mcp
```
2. Install dependencies:
```bash
npm install
```
3. Run the server:
```bash
npm start
```
### Configuration
Set up your environment variables before running:
```bash
export JIRA_BASE_URL="https://your-jira-instance.com"
export JIRA_API_TOKEN="your-api-token"
export JIRA_EMAIL="your-email@company.com" # Optional
```
Or create a `.env` file:
```bash
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env with your JIRA credentials
```
## Configuration
### Environment Variables
The MCP server requires the following environment variables:
- **JIRA_BASE_URL**: Your JIRA instance URL (without trailing slash)
- Example: `https://yourcompany.atlassian.net` or `https://jira.yourcompany.com`
- **JIRA_API_TOKEN**: Your JIRA Personal Access Token
- For Atlassian Cloud: Create at [id.atlassian.com/manage-profile/security/api-tokens](https://id.atlassian.com/manage-profile/security/api-tokens)
- For Server/Data Center: Create in your JIRA profile settings
### Authentication
This server uses **Bearer token authentication** with Personal Access Tokens. The JIRA_EMAIL environment variable is optional and only used for logging purposes.
**Supported JIRA versions:**
- Atlassian Cloud
- JIRA Server 9.0+
- JIRA Data Center
## Usage
### Starting the Server
#### Using npx (if not installed globally):
```bash
npx @hackdonalds/jira-mcp
```
#### If installed globally:
```bash
jira-mcp
```
#### From source:
```bash
npm start
```
Or run directly:
```bash
node server.js
```
### Example Tool Usage
#### Search Issues
```javascript
// Search for issues assigned to current user
{
"tool": "jira_search",
"arguments": {
"jql": "assignee = currentUser() AND status != Done",
"maxResults": 10
}
}
```
#### Get Issue Details
```javascript
{
"tool": "jira_get_issue",
"arguments": {
"issueKey": "PROJ-123"
}
}
```
#### Create New Issue
```javascript
{
"tool": "jira_create_issue",
"arguments": {
"project": "PROJ",
"issueType": "Task",
"summary": "New task summary",
"description": "Detailed description of the task",
"priority": "High"
}
}
```
#### Update Issue
```javascript
{
"tool": "jira_update_issue",
"arguments": {
"issueKey": "PROJ-123",
"summary": "Updated summary",
"assignee": "user-account-id"
}
}
```
#### Add Comment
```javascript
{
"tool": "jira_add_comment",
"arguments": {
"issueKey": "PROJ-123",
"comment": "This is a comment on the issue"
}
}
```
## Logging
The MCP server maintains comprehensive logging:
- **Log File**: `mcp.log` (in current directory or system temp directory)
- **Log Levels**: debug, info, warning, error
- **Fallback**: If file logging fails, logs to stderr
- **Content**: API requests, responses, errors, and tool executions
## Error Handling
The server includes robust error handling:
- **Missing Configuration**: Graceful degradation with helpful error messages
- **API Errors**: Detailed logging of JIRA API response errors
- **Network Issues**: Proper timeout and retry handling
- **File System**: Automatic fallback for log file creation
## Development
### Project Structure
```
jira-mcp/
├── server.js # Main MCP server implementation
├── package.json # Node.js dependencies and scripts
├── .env.example # Environment variable template
├── .gitignore # Git ignore rules
├── README.md # This file
└── mcp.log # Log file (created at runtime)
```
### Testing
Set your environment variables and test the server:
```bash
export JIRA_BASE_URL="https://your-jira-instance.com"
export JIRA_API_TOKEN="your-token-here"
# Test with npx
npx @hackdonalds/jira-mcp
# Or test from source
node server.js
```
### API Compatibility
- Uses JIRA REST API v2 (`/rest/api/2/`)
- Compatible with both Atlassian Cloud and Server installations
- Supports Bearer token authentication for modern JIRA instances
## Troubleshooting
### Common Issues
1. **Authentication Errors (401)**
- Verify your API token is correct and not expired
- Check that your JIRA instance supports Bearer token authentication
- Ensure JIRA_BASE_URL is correct and accessible
2. **File System Errors (EROFS)**
- The server automatically handles read-only file systems
- Logs will fall back to stderr if file logging fails
3. **Empty Search Results**
- Verify your JQL syntax is correct
- Check that you have permission to view the issues
- Try a simpler query like `project is not empty`
4. **Network/Timeout Issues**
- Ensure your JIRA instance is accessible from your network
- Check for corporate firewalls or VPN requirements
### Debug Mode
Enable verbose logging by setting:
```bash
export NODE_ENV=development
```
## License
MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.
## Contributing
1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Add tests if applicable
5. Submit a pull request
---
Built with the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) TypeScript SDK.TDQS
Scored across 6 tools
Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose targeting specific JIRA operations: creating, retrieving, updating, commenting on, searching for, and transitioning issues. There is no overlap or ambiguity between these functions.
All tools follow a consistent 'jira_verb_noun' pattern with snake_case throughout. The naming is predictable and uniform across all six tools.
Six tools is reasonable for a JIRA server, covering core issue management operations. It's slightly lean but includes essential CRUD and workflow actions, with minor gaps like missing project or user management.
The toolset covers key JIRA workflows: create, read, update, search, comment, and transition issues. Minor gaps exist, such as no delete operation or project-level tools, but agents can handle most common tasks effectively.