Connect Claude Code to GitHub, Slack, and Databases with MCP
MCP lets Claude Code talk to external services. Connect it to GitHub, Slack, databases, and project management tools to automate your entire dev workflow.
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is how Claude Code connects to external services. Instead of being limited to your filesystem and terminal, MCP lets Claude Code read GitHub issues, post to Slack, query databases, and interact with project management tools. It turns Claude Code from a coding agent into a full development workflow agent.
What is MCP and how does it work?
MCP is an open protocol that lets AI tools communicate with external services through standardized "servers." Each MCP server exposes tools (actions the AI can take) and resources (data the AI can read). Claude Code discovers these tools automatically and uses them when they're relevant to your request.
Think of MCP servers as plugins: you install them once, and Claude Code gains new capabilities.
Which MCP servers are most useful for developers?
| MCP Server | What it does | Example use case |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | Read/create issues, PRs, reviews | "Check what issues are assigned to me" |
| Slack | Read/send messages, search channels | "Post a deploy notification to #releases" |
| PostgreSQL | Query and modify database | "Show me the schema of the users table" |
| Jira | Read/update tickets, create stories | "Move PROJ-123 to In Progress" |
| Linear | Manage issues and projects | "Create a bug report for the login issue" |
| Notion | Read/write pages and databases | "Update the sprint retro doc" |
| Figma | Read design files and components | "What colors does the button component use?" |
How do you install an MCP server?
Claude Code provides a built-in command for managing MCP servers:
# Add an MCP server (HTTP transport — recommended)
claude mcp add github-server https://api.github.com/mcp
# Add a local MCP server (stdio transport)
claude mcp add postgres-server -- npx @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres postgresql://localhost/mydb
# List installed servers
claude mcp list
# Remove a server
claude mcp remove github-serverHow do you use MCP tools in practice?
Once an MCP server is installed, Claude Code uses its tools automatically when relevant. You don't need to specify which MCP server to use; just describe what you want:
# Claude Code uses the GitHub MCP server automatically
> "What open issues are assigned to me?"
> "Create a PR for my current branch"
# Claude Code uses the Slack MCP server
> "Post to #engineering: Deploy v2.3 is live"
# Claude Code uses the PostgreSQL MCP server
> "Show me the last 10 users who signed up"
> "Add an index on the email column in the users table"MCP servers have access to external services. Only install servers you trust, and review their permissions carefully. Use read-only database connections when possible.
How do you configure MCP servers per project?
MCP servers can be configured at the project level (in .claude/settings.json) or globally (in ~/.claude/settings.json). Project-level configuration means the team shares the same integrations.
// .claude/settings.json (project level)
{
"mcpServers": {
"postgres": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres", "postgresql://localhost/myapp"]
},
"github": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://api.github.com/mcp"
}
}
}