tonyzorin/youtrack-mcp

Open-source Model Context Protocol server for JetBrains YouTrack. You run it locally (Docker, npx, or Python). It talks to **YouTrack Cloud or Server** over the REST API so Cursor, Claude Desktop, and other MCP clients can search, create, and update issues.
This server shipped in **April 2025**, about six months before JetBrains added a Remote MCP to YouTrack 2025.3 (October 2025). It is not a fork of the official server.
Why this still exists
JetBrains’ official MCP is built **into YouTrack 2025.3+** (Cloud and Server) at https:// /mcp. New MCP features from JetBrains (OAuth, time tracking, tags, drafts, custom YouTrack apps) live there. Use that if you are on 2025.3 or newer and want the vendor path.
This project is a **process you run**. It calls the YouTrack REST API — the same API that existed before /mcp. That is why it still works on **self-hosted Server that has not upgraded to 2025.3**. There is no published minimum YouTrack version; if your instance can issue a permanent token and serve /api/issues, this server can talk to it. Article tools need a YouTrack that has the knowledge base.
| | This MCP | Official (2025.3+) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | April 2025, before official existed | Shipped in YouTrack 2025.3 (Oct 2025) |
| Where it runs | Your machine (stdio / Docker) | Inside YouTrack (/mcp) |
| YouTrack versions | REST API (including Server before 2025.3) | 2025.3 and newer |
| Cursor / Claude Desktop | Native stdio | Remote HTTP, or npx mcp-remote |
| Field updates | Simple strings: update_issue_state("DEMO-123", "In Progress") | Fetch field schema, then update_issue |
| Stick with this for | Older Server, local stdio, attachments, project admin, tool allow/deny lists | New JetBrains MCP features, OAuth, n8n/Zapier /mcp URL |
Quick start
You need a YouTrack URL and a permanent API token.
Cursor / Claude Desktop (Docker)
Same image on GHCR: ghcr.io/tonyzorin/youtrack-mcp:latest.
-i is required for stdio (without it the container exits immediately). Docker does **not** see Cursor/Claude env — pass YouTrack vars with -e in args. To limit tools, add another -e line, for example ENABLED_TOOLS=get_issue,search_issues,create_issue,add_comment.
npx (no Docker)
Requires Node.js 18+ and Python 3.14+. Also published as @tonyzorin/youtrack-mcp on GitHub Packages.
Docker from a terminal
Tag latest is the current stable release (**2.0.0**). Pin tonyzorin/youtrack-mcp:2.0.0 if you want a frozen image. WIP and PR tags exist for testing; do not use them in production.
Docker Compose (HTTP)
Compose does not attach a client to stdin, so stdio exits after startup. Use streamable HTTP and publish the port:
Point Cursor / Claude Code at http://localhost:8000/mcp.
Remote HTTP from a terminal:
What you can do
Pass **simple strings** for state, priority, assignee, type, and estimation. Nested { "name": "In Progress" } objects fail.