# GitHub MCP Setup Guide

The GitHub MCP server failed to connect with error:
```
Authorization header is badly formatted
```

## Fixing the GitHub MCP Connection

1. **Check MCP configuration** (likely in `.claude/mcp.json` or Claude app settings):
   ```json
   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "github": {
         "command": "...",
         "args": [...],
         "env": {
           "GITHUB_TOKEN": "your-token-here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   ```

2. **Verify GitHub token**:
   - Token should be a GitHub Personal Access Token (PAT)
   - Required scopes: `repo`, `read:org`
   - Generate at: https://github.com/settings/tokens

3. **Token format**:
   - Classic PAT: `ghp_...` (starts with ghp_)
   - Fine-grained PAT: `github_pat_...`
   - No extra quotes or whitespace

4. **Common issues**:
   - Token expired (regenerate on GitHub)
   - Wrong token format (not base64 encoded, just raw token)
   - Authorization header format (should be `Bearer <token>` or `token <token>`)

5. **Test token manually**:
   ```bash
   curl -H "Authorization: token YOUR_TOKEN" https://api.github.com/user
   ```

## What GitHub MCP Would Enable

Once connected, I could:
- Create PRs directly from conversation
- Check CI/CD status
- Link commits to issues
- Review PR comments
- Update issue status

## Alternative: Manual Git + GitHub CLI

If MCP stays broken, you can use `gh` CLI:
```bash
# Install GitHub CLI if not present
winget install --id GitHub.cli

# Authenticate
gh auth login

# I can then use gh commands via Bash tool
gh pr create --title "..." --body "..."
gh pr status
```

## To Diagnose

Check Claude Code settings or MCP config file for the github server configuration and verify the token is valid.