Connect OpenClaw to GitLab

Connect OpenClaw to GitLab in 3 steps: 1. Sign in to ApexGenius and connect GitLab. 2. Add the ApexGenius MCP server. 3. Start using GitLab in OpenClaw.

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How to connect GitLab to OpenClaw

1Sign in to ApexGenius and connect GitLab
2Add the ApexGenius MCP server to OpenClaw
3Start using GitLab in OpenClaw

1
Connect GitLab to ApexGenius
Paste it into ApexGenius
Paste your GitLab key into ApexGenius once.
2
Connect ApexGenius to OpenClaw
Copy the MCP address
On Start, pick API key, open Manual setup, and copy the MCP address.
3

Approve access
ApexGenius opens its approval page. Review the access, then approve.

Then ask OpenClaw

Using GitLab, tell me which GitLab user is connected, then list my five most recently updated open merge requests. Do not change anything.

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Written setup, step by stepShow

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. Connect ApexGenius to OpenClaw

Use this server address when adding the connection:

https://server.autom8.pro/mcp

Add ApexGenius as a remote MCP server in your OpenClaw configuration using the hosted HTTP URL, then complete the authorization in your browser.
When ApexGenius asks what this AI client may use, choose Read only for the first test, or Custom to limit it to the tools you need.
Start a new conversation and select ApexGenius from the available tools before asking for live data.

3. Verify one safe read

Using GitLab, tell me which GitLab user is connected, then list my five most recently updated open merge requests. Do not change anything.

Using GitLab, tell me which GitLab user is connected, then list my five most recently updated open merge requests. Do not change anything.

Confirm the username matches your GitLab.com account and the merge requests match GitLab. The connection is read-only, so this check changes nothing.

Full guide: the GitLab setup guide.

What it looks like in OpenClaw

Illustration of a task, not a recorded customer result. Your answers come from the account and dates you choose.

How the route works

OpenClawApexGenius MCP route

Which GitLab user is connected? Do not change anything.

Working with ApexGenius1 tool search · 1 read

RequestCheck the user

Account scopeAuthorized connections checked

apex_search_toolsGitLab user · Find the GitLab read routeComplete

apex_call_read_toolget_current_user · Read the connected userComplete

Illustrative example: the token belongs to the username octo-dev. Compare it with the GitLab.com account you meant to connect. Nothing was changed.

Read-only route

OpenClaw

Try asking

Which GitLab user is connected? Do not change anything.

Summarize the open merge requests in the project I name, with author, age and reviewers.

List the issues labeled bug that were opened in the last 30 days in the project I name.

Why did the latest pipeline on the main branch fail in the project I name? List the failed jobs.

What OpenClaw can do in GitLab

28 operations: 28 read. Every operation looks things up and changes nothing, so OpenClaw cannot change GitLab through ApexGenius.

Account and groups

4 read

get_current_userread
Read the GitLab user the token belongs to.
list_groupsread
List the groups you can see.
get_groupread
Read one group.
list_group_projectsread
List the projects in a group.

Projects

4 read

list_projectsread
List or search the projects you are a member of.
get_projectread
Read one project.
list_project_labelsread
List a project’s labels.
list_project_milestonesread
List a project’s milestones.

Issues

4 read

list_issuesread
List issues across your projects.
list_project_issuesread
List the issues in one project.
get_project_issueread
Read one issue.
list_issue_notesread
Read the comments on an issue.

Merge requests

6 read

list_merge_requestsread
List merge requests across your projects.
list_project_merge_requestsread
List the merge requests in one project.
get_project_merge_requestread
Read one merge request.
list_merge_request_notesread
Read the comments on a merge request.
list_merge_request_diffsread
Read the file changes in a merge request.
list_merge_request_commitsread
List the commits in a merge request.

Repository

7 read

list_repository_treeread
List the files and folders in a repository.
get_repository_blobread
Read one file from the repository.
list_branchesread
List the branches in a repository.
list_commitsread
List commits on a branch.
get_commitread
Read one commit.
list_tagsread
List the tags in a repository.
list_releasesread
List a project’s releases.

CI/CD pipelines

3 read

list_pipelinesread
List a project’s pipelines by status, branch or date.
get_pipelineread
Read one pipeline.
list_pipeline_jobsread
List the jobs in a pipeline and how each one ended.

You choose the access. When you approve OpenClaw, pick Full access, Read only, or Custom.

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

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

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.

GitLab.com limits how many API calls each user can make each minute.

Disconnecting removes the token from ApexGenius. Revoke it on GitLab.com to stop it everywhere.

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Questions about connecting OpenClaw to GitLab

Updated October 26, 2026.

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.