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Extend GitLab Duo Agent Platform: Connect any tool with MCP (opens in new tab)

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GitLab Duo Agent Platform can connect to Jira and other MCP-compatible tools, allowing developers to manage project data through natural-language requests inside their IDE. The post explains how to configure Atlassian OAuth, register Jira as an MCP server, and verify the connection in GitLab and VS Code. It concludes with practical workflows for backlog planning and creating or triaging issues directly from code context.

MCP Architecture

  • GitLab Duo Agent Platform operates as the MCP client.
  • The Atlassian MCP server:
    • Authenticates users
    • Converts natural-language requests into Jira API calls
    • Returns structured results to GitLab Duo
    • Maintains security and audit controls
  • This integration reduces context switching between Jira, GitLab, and the IDE.

Configure the Jira OAuth Application

  • Create an OAuth 2.0 integration in the Atlassian Developer Console.
  • Add Jira API permissions:
    • read:jira-work for issues, projects, and boards
    • write:jira-work for creating and updating issues
    • read:jira-user for user information
  • Configure the callback URL:
    • https://gitlab.com/oauth/callback
  • Copy the generated Client ID and Client Secret and store them securely.

Configure GitLab Duo MCP

  • Create .gitlab/duo/mcp.json in the GitLab project.

  • Register the Atlassian MCP endpoint at:

    https://mcp.atlassian.com/v1/mcp

  • Configure OAuth authorization and token URLs:

    • https://auth.atlassian.com/oauth/authorize
    • https://auth.atlassian.com/oauth/token

  • Replace the placeholder credentials with the Jira OAuth values.

  • Enable Allow external MCP tools under Group Settings → GitLab Duo → Configuration.

Verify the Connection

  • Ask GitLab Duo:
    • “What MCP tools do you have access to?”
    • “Test the MCP JIRA configuration in this project”
  • Approve access on the Atlassian MCP website and select the relevant Jira instance.
  • Use GitLab: Show MCP Dashboard from the VS Code or VSCodium Command Palette to inspect:
    • MCP server connection status
    • Available tools such as jira_get_issue and jira_create_issue
    • Real-time server logs and tool calls

Planning and Backlog Prioritization

  • Query Jira from the GitLab Duo chat without leaving the IDE.
  • Find unassigned issues in a project.
  • Ask the assistant to:
    • Recommend the top issues to prioritize
    • Summarize their context
    • Assign selected issues to the current user
  • This supports sprint planning by combining Jira data with AI-generated prioritization.

Issue Triage and Creation from Code

  • Developers can investigate bugs while reviewing code and interact with Jira conversationally.
  • Example workflows include:
    • Searching for an existing bug related to a code-level error
    • Creating a Jira issue if no matching ticket exists
    • Including relevant code context in the issue
    • Identifying possible blockers
    • Linking the issue to the current branch

The integration is most useful when teams want Jira actions, planning, and issue management available directly within their development environment. Teams should configure OAuth scopes carefully, protect client credentials, and use the MCP Dashboard to monitor connections and tool activity.