Git MCP Server Troubleshooting Guide

Git MCP Server Troubleshooting Guide

This repository documents common connection issues with Git MCP servers and their solutions based on real-world experience.

🎉 Successful Installation Method

We've found the solution! After extensive troubleshooting, we discovered that the UVX installer doesn't handle scoped package names properly.

See our Successful Installation Guide for the complete solution and steps.

Quick Start

If you're experiencing connection issues with Git MCP Server:

1. Run our diagnostic script to identify common problems
2. Follow the connection checklist for step-by-step verification
3. Check log analysis to understand error patterns
4. Implement resolution steps for your specific issue

Common Connection Issues

1. Package Name Error

npm error 404 Not Found - GET https://registry.npmjs.org/mcp-server-git - Not found

Problem: The package name is incorrect. Many users try mcp-server-git but this package doesn't exist in the npm registry.

Solution: Use the correct package name format:

# For UVX installer
uvx modelcontextprotocol-git-server

# For NPM installer (if available)
npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/git-server

2. UVX Package Name Format Issue

error: Not a valid package or extra name: "@modelcontextprotocol/git-server"

Problem: UVX doesn't accept scoped package names with @ symbols.

Solution: Remove the @ symbol and use hyphens:

uvx modelcontextprotocol-git-server

3. Server Transport Closure

Server transport closed unexpectedly, this is likely due to the process exiting early.

Problem: The server process terminates prematurely before proper initialization.

Potential causes:

• Incorrect environment variables
• Port conflicts
• Missing dependencies
• Permission issues
• Incorrect token configuration

4. Authentication Issues

Authentication issues typically show different error patterns from what we're seeing. When you see:

Server disconnected. {"context":"connection"}

This indicates a connection issue rather than an authentication problem.

Additional Connection Issues

Port Conflicts

If Claude desktop or other applications are using the same port:

Error: EADDRINUSE: address already in use :::3000

Solution:

• Change the port in your configuration
• Use environment variables: GIT_SERVER_PORT=3001
• Check for and close conflicting processes

Environment Variable Problems

Different Git providers require different environment variables:

• GitHub: GITHUB_TOKEN
• GitLab: GITLAB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN (not GITLAB_ACCESS_TOKEN)

Incorrectly named environment variables will cause connection failures.

Process Management Issues

Multiple server instances can interfere with each other:

• Stale lock files prevent new server instances from starting
• Log file access conflicts occur when multiple processes try to write to the same log
• Claude desktop may start its own server instances causing conflicts

Tools & Resources

| Resource | Purpose | |----------|---------| | Successful Installation Guide | Step-by-step guide to successful installation | | Connection Checklist | Step-by-step verification process | | Diagnostic Script | Automated troubleshooting tool | | Log Analysis | Understanding error patterns in logs | | Resolution Steps | Specific solutions for common issues | | MCP Debugging Docs | Official debugging documentation |

Verification Steps

After attempting fixes, verify your connection with:

# Start the server with custom port
uvx modelcontextprotocol-git-server --env GIT_SERVER_PORT=3001

# Restart the app
# Then check for Git tools in the function menu

Look for these logs indicating success:

[git-server] [info] Server started and connected successfully