How do I connect GitLab?

Create a personal access token on GitLab.com with only the read_api scope, open GitLab in ApexGenius Connections, and paste it. ApexGenius checks the token’s scopes and your GitLab user before saving it encrypted.

Which token should I create?

A legacy personal access token with only the read_api scope. In GitLab.com open Edit profile, then Access, then Personal access tokens, and choose Generate token, then Legacy token. A token with api or another scope that can make changes is refused.

Can it change my projects?

No. Every operation is a read. It cannot create, edit, comment on, merge, close or delete anything. Make those changes on GitLab.com.

Can it read private projects?

Yes, the ones your GitLab user can see. Public projects are readable with any valid token.

Does it work with self-managed GitLab?

Not yet. The connector reaches gitlab.com only. Self-managed GitLab and GitLab Dedicated need a separate host check that is not built yet.

What happens when my token expires?

GitLab tokens expire within a year. When GitLab stops accepting it, reads fail. Create a new token on GitLab.com and paste it on the GitLab connection page in ApexGenius.

GitLab MCP connector

GitLab token · Available

GitLab MCP Connector for AI Agents

Connect Claude, ChatGPT and other AI agents to GitLab over MCP: read projects, issues, merge requests, files and pipelines your GitLab.com user can see.

Connect GitLab.com once in ApexGenius with a personal access token limited to read_api, then read projects, groups, issues, merge requests, repository files, commits and CI/CD pipelines from compatible AI agents. Every call is a read; nothing in GitLab changes. Self-managed GitLab is not supported yet. Each AI agent needs its own ApexGenius setup.

Connect GitLab Setup guide

1,000 free credits · No card required

GitLab

App connector

Available

Bring your GitLab.com projects and the GitLab skill to compatible AI agents. Read issues, merge requests, files, commits and pipelines. The connection is read-only.

28
Operations: 28
Read: 0
Write: 3
In context

Authorization: GitLab token
Cataloged tools: 28 discoverable
Connection scope: What your GitLab.com user can read
Accounts: Connected account

Claude / ChatGPT

MCP client

ApexGenius route

Gateway context

GitLab

Authorized session

Why the gateway is here

It keeps the GitLab authorization, tools, and activity behind the same managed route you use for your other supported systems.

Ask it

What people ask GitLab.

These questions use the GitLab tools below. Start with a read after connecting your channel or account.

Which GitLab user is connected? Do not change anything.Read
Summarize the open merge requests in the project I name, with author, age and reviewers.Read
List the issues labeled bug that were opened in the last 30 days in the project I name.Read
Why did the latest pipeline on the main branch fail in the project I name? List the failed jobs.Read
Read the README in the project I name and explain how to run it locally.Read

Tools

What GitLab can do through ApexGenius.

The reviewed catalog contains these 28 GitLab tools. Search by tool name, job, or access type.

Open the generated tool reference

Account and groups

get_current_user

Read

Read the GitLab user the token belongs to.

Account and groups

list_groups

Read

List the groups you can see.

Account and groups

get_group

Read

Read one group.

Account and groups

list_group_projects

Read

List the projects in a group.

Projects

list_projects

Read

List or search the projects you are a member of.

Projects

get_project

Read

Read one project.

Projects

list_project_labels

Read

List a project’s labels.

Projects

list_project_milestones

Read

List a project’s milestones.

Issues

list_issues

Read

List issues across your projects.

Issues

list_project_issues

Read

List the issues in one project.

Issues

get_project_issue

Read

Read one issue.

Issues

list_issue_notes

Read

Read the comments on an issue.

Merge requests

list_merge_requests

Read

List merge requests across your projects.

Merge requests

list_project_merge_requests

Read

List the merge requests in one project.

Merge requests

get_project_merge_request

Read

Read one merge request.

Merge requests

list_merge_request_notes

Read

Read the comments on a merge request.

Merge requests

list_merge_request_diffs

Read

Read the file changes in a merge request.

Merge requests

list_merge_request_commits

Read

List the commits in a merge request.

Repository

list_repository_tree

Read

List the files and folders in a repository.

Repository

get_repository_blob

Read

Read one file from the repository.

Repository

list_branches

Read

List the branches in a repository.

Repository

list_commits

Read

List commits on a branch.

Repository

get_commit

Read

Read one commit.

Repository

list_tags

Read

List the tags in a repository.

Repository

list_releases

Read

List a project’s releases.

CI/CD pipelines

list_pipelines

Read

List a project’s pipelines by status, branch or date.

CI/CD pipelines

get_pipeline

Read

Read one pipeline.

CI/CD pipelines

list_pipeline_jobs

Read

List the jobs in a pipeline and how each one ended.

Connection model

How to connect GitLab.

The GitLab connection belongs to your signed-in account. Any GitLab-native resources stay inside that provider.

Read connection details

Before you start

A GitLab.com account that can see the projects you want your AI to read. Self-managed GitLab is not supported yet.
A personal access token with only the read_api scope.

1. Connect GitLab to ApexGenius

Create a token on GitLab.com. On GitLab.com open Edit profile, then Access, then Personal access tokens. Choose Generate token, then Legacy token. Name it, set an expiry date, pick only read_api, and choose Generate token. Copy the token once. The connect form links to a pre-filled token page.
Open GitLab in Connections. Sign in to ApexGenius, open Connections, choose GitLab, and select Connect.
Paste the token. Paste the token into the connection form. ApexGenius supplies the gitlab.com address, checks the token’s scopes and your GitLab user, and stores it encrypted. A token that can make changes is refused. Never paste the token into a chat.
Paste a GitLab.com personal access token with only the read_api scope and choose Connect. How to get it opens the token steps.Open full-size image (opens in a new tab)
Check the connected user. Open Tools to see the GitLab reads, then ask your AI the question below. Compare the username with your GitLab.com account.

Connect GitLab →

2. Choose your AI and finish setup

Each guide includes the AI setup and a first question for GitLab.

ChatGPT setup →Claude setup →Codex setup →

Current governance

Know the account, tools, and result.

ApexGenius keeps the selected context and current tool surface visible, then records supported write activity for review.

Authorized context

GitLab checks the token on every call. Your AI sees only the projects and data your GitLab user can read.

Current tool surface

Every operation is a read. ApexGenius has no GitLab write tool, so nothing in GitLab can change through this connection.

Reviewable activity

ApexGenius refuses a token that has any scope beyond read_api, read_user and read_repository, such as api.

GitLab.com only. Self-managed GitLab and GitLab Dedicated are not supported yet.

Why a gateway

28 operations. Three tool definitions.

Your AI starts with three ApexGenius gateway tools. It discovers the GitLab operations available to its authorization when a task needs them, then runs the selected operation through the gateway.

One saved provider connection

Connect GitLab to ApexGenius, then authorize each AI client to use the saved connection with its own tool permissions.

Scoped per agent

Give one client read-only and the write operations never appear in its tool list at all.

Every call on the record

Which agent asked, what ran, and whether it succeeded, kept per connection for review.

Use GitLab with your AI.

Choose your AI client for setup steps and examples using GitLab.

FAQ

Questions people ask before connecting GitLab.

How do I connect GitLab?: Create a personal access token on GitLab.com with only the read_api scope, open GitLab in ApexGenius Connections, and paste it. ApexGenius checks the token’s scopes and your GitLab user before saving it encrypted.
Which token should I create?: A legacy personal access token with only the read_api scope. In GitLab.com open Edit profile, then Access, then Personal access tokens, and choose Generate token, then Legacy token. A token with api or another scope that can make changes is refused.
Can it change my projects?: No. Every operation is a read. It cannot create, edit, comment on, merge, close or delete anything. Make those changes on GitLab.com.
Can it read private projects?: Yes, the ones your GitLab user can see. Public projects are readable with any valid token.
Does it work with self-managed GitLab?: Not yet. The connector reaches gitlab.com only. Self-managed GitLab and GitLab Dedicated need a separate host check that is not built yet.
What happens when my token expires?: GitLab tokens expire within a year. When GitLab stops accepting it, reads fail. Create a new token on GitLab.com and paste it on the GitLab connection page in ApexGenius.

More connectors

Explore the directory.

MCP-compatible AI agents

Codex starts in Plugins in the ChatGPT desktop app. ChatGPT Chat and Work also use Plugins, with personal setup where Developer Mode is permitted. Each AI client has its own guide and authorization requirements.

App connections

Salesforce keeps connection context. Other providers use your signed-in account.

Connect GitLab. Start with a safe read.

Use the AI you already work in while ApexGenius keeps the app route visible.

Connect GitLab

1,000 free credits · No card required

Compatibility does not imply partnership.